<!-- This article is a part of Wikipedia:WikiProject Aircraft. Please see Wikipedia:WikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout. --> {{Infobox aircraft | name = AVIA/Lombardi FL.3 | logo = | logo_size = | image = Avia FL3 G-AGFT Bre Apr 22 06.jpg | alt = | caption = | long_caption = | other_names = | aircraft_type = Two-seat cabin monoplane | aim = | outcome = | related = | national_origin = | manufacturer = Azionaria Vercellese Industrie Aeronautiche (AVIA)<br />Lombardi | design_group = | designer = Francis Lombardi | builder = | issuer = | status = | owners = | primary_user = | more_users = | service = | major_applications = | proposals = | prototypes = | number_built = 335 + 1 prototype<ref>[http://www.alieuomini.it/catalogo/dettaglio_catalogo/avia_fl,93.html Catalogue AVIA FL.3] alieuomini.it {{dead link|date=September 2023}}</ref> | construction_number = | civil_registration = | military_serial = | radio_code = | requirement = | aircraft_carried = | flights = | total_hours = | total_distance = | construction_date = | introduction = | retired = | first_flight = 1939 | initiated = | in_service = | last_flight = | expected = | developed_from = | variants = | developed_into = | preservation = | fate = | predecessors = | successors = | concluded = }}
The '''AVIA FL.3''' (also later known as the '''Lombardi FL.3''') was an Italian two-seat cabin monoplane designed and built by Azionaria Vercellese Industrie Aeronautiche (AVIA) who were later taken over by Lombardi in 1947.
==Development== The FL.3 was a simple low-wing cantilever monoplane with fixed landing gear and powered by an 85 hp (63 kW) Continental C-85 engine. It had room for a pilot and passenger sitting side-by-side and could either have an open or enclosed cockpit. The first aircraft flew in 1939 and production was started, but ended temporarily when the Second World War started.
Production resumed after the war and in 1947 the company was taken over by '''Lombardi'''. Over 700 aircraft had been built by AVIA and Lombardi when production stopped in 1948.
In 1953 '''Meteor SpA''' acquired the rights for the FL.3 and with some re-design produced it as the '''Meteor FL.53''' and this was followed by a three-seat version the '''FL.54''' powered by a 135 hp Lycoming engine. A four-seat version the '''FL.55''' was also produced powered by either a 150 hp (112 kW) or 180 hp (134 kW) Lycoming engine.
==Variants== ;AVIA FL.3 :Production version by AVIA powered by a 60 hp (45 kW) CNA D.4 engine. ;Lombardi FL.3 :Production version by Lombardi. ;Meteor FL.53 :Modified version built by Meteor powered by a 65 hp (48 kW) Continental engine, eight built. ;Meteor FL.53BM :FL.53 with a 90 hp (67 kW) Continental engine, four built. thumb|right|Meteor FL54 three-seat variant at Milan (Bresso) airport in 1965 ;Meteor FL.54 :Three-seat variant powered by a 90 hp (67 kW) Continental C90-12F engine, 10 built by Meteor. ;Meteor FL.55 :Four-seat variant powered by 135 hp (100 kW) Lycoming engine, four built by Meteor. ;Meteor FL.55BM :FL.55 powered by a 150 hp (112 kW) Lycoming engine, ten built by Meteor. ;Meteor FL.55CM :FL.55 powered by a 180 hp (130 kW) Lycoming engine, one built by Meteor. ;Meteor Super :The Super was a four-seat FL.55 with enlarged vertical tail and a 220 hp Meteor Alfa 4 engine, one built. ;Meteor Bis :The Bis was a two-seat variant of the Super fitted with a 110 hp Meteor Alfa 2 engine.
==Operators== ;{{flagcountry|Croatia}} *''Zrakoplovstvo Nezavisne Države Hrvatske'' ;{{flagcountry|Nazi Germany}} *''Luftwaffe'' operated captured aircraft. ;{{flag|Kingdom of Italy}} *''Regia Aeronautica'' *Italian Co-Belligerent Air Force ;{{flagcountry|Italian Social Republic}} *Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana ;{{ITA}} *Italian Air Force
==Specifications (FL.3) == {{Aircraft specs |ref=The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985), 1985, Orbis Publishing, Page 2380 |prime units? = met |capacity=2-seat |length m=6.35 |length ft=20 |length in=10 |span m=9.85 |span ft=32 |span in=3.75 |height m=1.70 |height ft=5 |height in=7 |wing area sqm=14.35 |wing area sqft=154.47 |empty weight kg=340 |empty weight lb=750 |gross weight kg=570 |gross weight lb=1257 |eng1 number=1 |eng1 name=Continental C-85 flat-four piston |eng1 kw=<!-- prop engines -->63 |eng1 hp=<!-- prop engines -->85 |max speed kmh=195 |max speed mph=121 |range km=555 |range miles=342 |ceiling m=6000 |ceiling ft= }}
==See also== {{aircontent <!-- include as many lines are appropriate. additional lines/entries with carriage return. --> |see also= |related=<!-- related developments --> |similar aircraft=<!-- similar or comparable aircraft --> |lists=<!-- related lists --> * List of aircraft of World War II }}
==References== {{reflist}} * The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982–1985), 1985, Orbis Publishing, Page 2380
==External links== {{commons category}} * [http://www.aircraftworlddirectory.com/civil/m/meteorfl54.htm World Aircraft Directory] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111002190655/http://www.aircraftworlddirectory.com/civil/m/meteorfl54.htm |date=2011-10-02 }} *{{in lang|it}} [http://home.planet.nl/~fredr079/fl-alg/fl3b.html Gruppo Amici Velivoli Storici] *[http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?aircraft_genericsearch=Avia%20FL-3&distinct_entry=true Photo gallery on airliners.net]
{{AVIA and Lombardi aircraft}} {{Czech trainer aircraft}} {{Portal bar|Italy|Companies|Aviation}}
Category:Lombardi aircraft Category:1930s Italian civil utility aircraft Category:Low-wing aircraft Category:Single-engined tractor aircraft Category:Aircraft first flown in 1939 Category:Aircraft with fixed conventional landing gear Category:Single-engined piston aircraft