Aermacchi MB-339
The
Aermacchi MB-339 is an
Italian military
trainer and
attack aircraft. It is a development of the company's earlier
MB-326 that it was designed to replace.
The MB-339 is of conventional configuration, and shares much of the 326's airframe. It has a low, unswept wing with tip tanks and jet intakes in the roots,
tricycle undercarriage, and accommodation for the student and instructor in tandem. The most significant revision was a redesign of the forward fuselage to raise the instructor's seat to allow visibility over and past the student pilot's head.
The first flight took place on
August 12,
1976 and deliveries to the
Italian Air Force commenced in
1979. Still in production in
2004 in an enhanced version with a much-modernised cockpit. Over 200 MB-339s have been built, with roughly half of them going to the Italian Air Force.
|
Aermacchi MB-339CD at RIAT 2004. |
*
MB-339X - two prototypes
*
MB-339A - original production variant for Italy
**
MB-339PAN - variant for
Frecce Tricolori aerobatic team
**
MB-339RM - radio and radar calibration variant
**
MB-339AM - Malaysian version
**
MB-339AN - Nigerian version
**
MB-339AP - Peruvian version
*
MB-339K Veltro II - single-seat dedicated attack version, first flew
1980*
MB-339B - trainer with enhanced attack capabilities
*
MB-339C - more powerful engine
**
MB-339CB - New Zealand version (weapons training with laser designation, radar detection, Aim 9L and Maverick capability - 17 survivors - in storage near
Blenheim,
New Zealand )
**
MB-339CE - Eritrean version
*
MB-339CD - modernised flight controls and instrumentation
**
MB-339FD ("Full Digital") export version of the 339CD
*
Italian Air Force (107x MB-339A, 30x CD)
*
Argentine Navy (10x MB-339A) :The Naval Aviation was the first foreign user of the forerunner
MB-326GB, buying eight in
1969. Ten
MB-339s arrived in
1979 and where the only jets to operate from
Port Stanley Airport (along with turboprops
FMA IA 58 Pucarás and
T-34 Mentors) during the
Falklands/Malvinas War in
1982. On May 21st during a routine reconnaissance flight and flown by
Lieutenant Crippa, a
MB-339 was the first one to attack the
Royal Navy amphibious force hitting
HMS Argonaut (F56). Five airframes were captured or destroyed by the British. 11 surplus
Brazilian Air Force MB-326GC where delivered after the war and are still in service and they are alltogether locally known as
MC-32.
*
Dubai Air Wing (7x MB-339A)
*
Eritrean Air Force (6x MB-339CE)
*
Ghana Air Force (4x MB-339A)
*
Royal Malaysian Air Force (13x MB-339AM) retired from service
*
Nigerian Air Force (12x MB-339AN)
*
Royal New Zealand Air Force(18x MB-339CB) used by
No. 14 Squadron RNZAF 1991-2002.
*
Peruvian Air Force (16x MB-339AP)
|
Orthographic projection of the Aermacchi MB-339A. |
General characteristics
*
Crew: two, student and instructor
*
Length: 10.97 m (36 ft 0 in)
*
Wingspan: 10.85 m (35 ft 7 in)
*
Height: 3.99 m (13 ft 1 in)
*
Wing area: 19.3 m² (208 ft²)
*
Empty: 3,075 kg (6,780 lb)
*
Loaded: kg ( lb)
*
Maximum takeoff: 4,400 kg (9,700 lb)
*
Powerplant: 1x
Rolls-Royce Viper Mk. 632, 4,000 lbf (17.8 kN) thrust
Performance
*
Maximum speed: 896 km/h (560 mph)
*
Range: 1,760 km (1,100 mi)
*
Service ceiling: 14,600 m (47,900 ft)
*
Rate of climb: m/min ( ft/min)
*
Wing loading: kg/m² ( lb/ft²)
*
Thrust-to-weight:Armament
* up to 1,800 kg (4,000 lb) of weapons on six hardpoints, including gunpods, bombs, and rockets.
Related development:Aermacchi MB-326Comparable aircraft:BAE HawkDesignation sequence:MB-338 -
MB-339 -
MB-340
