One hundred ten were built, in Yugoslav Air Force service from 1958 to mid-1970s.

First flown in 1956,[2] the Aero 3 was designed to meet a Yugoslav Air Force requirement for a primary trainer that could also be used in the army co-operation role.

[2] The Aero 3 was a low-wing cantilever monoplane that seated the student and instructor in tandem under a bubble canopy.

[2] Of all wood construction, it had a fixed, tailwheel landing gear and was powered by a nose-mounted 190 hp (142 kW) Lycoming O-435-A piston engine.

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era