Adaridi AD 3 explained

Adaridi AD 3 was a wooden aircraft designed by the Russian engineer Boris Adaridin, who lived in Finland. It was a high wing aircraft with a low-powered engine. In 1923, the Finnish Air Force ordered one Adaridi aircraft. The aircraft was not given any official designation code. The maiden flight was on April 17, 1924.

The German ace, Leutnant Emil Thuy (32 victories in World War I) described the aircraft as having mediocre flying qualities, and that the engine was inadequate. The aircraft was never meant to become a military aircraft, it was merely an exercise in building an aircraft.

The aircraft was stationed at the fighter squadron at Utti air force base from the summer of 1924 until 1931. It was very rarely flown, as inexperienced pilots could not get the aircraft off the ground.

Operators

• Finnish Air Force

Museum aircraft

The sole manufactured Adaridi is displayed at the Finnish Aviation Museum.

Further reading

• Book: Kalevi Keskinen . Kari Stenman . Klaus Niska . Suomen ilmavoimien lentokoneet 1918–1939. Helsinki: Tietoteos. 1976. 951-9035-20-6.
• Book: Kalevi Keskinen . Kyösti Partonen . Kari Stenman . Suomen ilmavoimat I 1918–1927. Helsinki: Tietoteos. 2005. 952-99432-2-9.