The Fuji T-3 is a primary military

trainer aircraft A trainer is a class of aircraft designed specifically to facilitate flight training of pilots and aircrews. The use of a dedicated trainer aircraft with additional safety features—such as tandem flight controls, forgiving flight characteristi ...

used by the

Japan Air Self Defense Force The , , also informally referred to as the Japanese Air Force, is the air and space branch of the Japan Self-Defense Forces, responsible for the defense of Japanese airspace, other air and space operations, cyberwarfare and electronic warfare. ...

, manufactured by

Fuji Heavy Industries is a Japanese multinational corporation and conglomerate primarily involved in both terrestrial and aerospace transportation manufacturing. It is best known for its line of Subaru automobiles. Founded in 1953, the company was formerly named ( ...

. Its first flight was in 1978. In the course of its service life, 50 units were produced. It is being replaced by the

Fuji T-7 The Fuji T-7 (previously T-3 Kai) is a Japanese primary trainer aircraft built by Fuji Heavy Industries for the Japan Air Self-Defense Force. A development of Fuji's earlier T-3 trainer, it is a single-engined monoplane powered by a turboprop e ...

Development

The KM-2B was a further development of the

Fuji KM-2 The Fuji KM-2 is a Japanese propeller-driven light aircraft, which was developed by Fuji Heavy Industries from the Beech T-34 Mentor which Fuji built under licence. Various versions have been used as primary trainers by the Japan Self-Defense Fo ...

(itself a four-seat development of the

T-34 Mentor The Beechcraft T-34 Mentor is an American propeller-driven, single-engined, military trainer aircraft derived from the Beechcraft Model 35 Bonanza. The earlier versions of the T-34, dating from around the late 1940s to the 1950s, were piston- ...

with a more powerful engine) for use as a primary trainer for the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF). It combined the structure and engine of the KM-2 with the tandem cockpit of the T-34 Mentor. Its first flight was on 17 January 1978. Fifty were purchased by the JASDF as the Fuji T-3, and production continued until 1982.

Operational history

The Fuji T-3 served with the 11 and 12 Hiko Kyoikudan (flying training wings) of the JASDF. It is currently being replaced with the

, a

turboprop A turboprop is a turbine engine that drives an aircraft propeller. A turboprop consists of an intake, reduction gearbox, compressor, combustor, turbine, and a propelling nozzle. Air enters the intake and is compressed by the compressor. Fuel ...

variant of the T-3 with a Allison 250 engine.

Operators

Japan Air Self-Defense Force The , , also informally referred to as the Japanese Air Force, is the air and space branch of the Japan Self-Defense Forces, responsible for the defense of Japanese airspace, other air and space operations, cyberwarfare and electronic warfa ...

Specifications (T-3)

References

{{JSDF aircraft designations 1970s Japanese military trainer aircraft Single-engined tractor aircraft Low-wing aircraft T-3 Aircraft first flown in 1978

Development

Operational history

Operators

Specifications (T-3)

See also

References