Aermacchi MB-339

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

MB-339

Type	Light attack aircraft and advanced trainer
Manufacturer	Aermacchi
Maiden flight	1976-08-12
Primary users	Italian Air Force 8 Air forces
Produced	1978-
Number built	213+

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.

1 Variants
2 Operators
3 Competitions
4 Cost
5 Specifications (MB-339A)
6 External links
7 Related content

[edit] Variants

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 at Ohakea, New Zealand )
- MB-339CE - Eritrean version
MB-339CD - modernised flight controls and instrumentation
- MB-339FD ("Full Digital") export version of the 339CD

MB-339 T-Bird II aka Lockheed T-Bird; version for U.S. JPATS competition.

[edit] Operators

Frecce Tricolori at RIAT 2005 in their anniversary year.

Argentina: Argentine Navy (Comando de Aviación Naval) 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 War (spanish:Guerra de las Malvinas) in 1982. On May 21 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. 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 locally known as MC-32.

Dubai: Dubai Air Wing operates 7 MB-339A.

Eritrea: Eritrean Air Force operates 6 MB-339CE.

Ghana: Ghana Air Force operates 4 MB-339A

Italy: Italian Air Force operates 107 MB-339A and 30 MB-339CD.

Malaysia: Royal Malaysian Air Force operated 13 MB-339AM - all were retired from service.

Nigeria: Nigerian Air Force operates 12x MB-339AN.

New Zealand: Royal New Zealand Air Force received 18 MB-339CB used by No. 14 Squadron RNZAF between 1991 and 2002.

Peru: Peruvian Air Force operates 16x MB-339AP.

[edit] Competitions

The Lockheed-Aermacchi MB-339 T-Bird II was a losing contender in the USA's Joint Primary Aircraft Training System (JPTATS) aircraft selection. Among the seven to enter, the Raytheon/Pilatus entry won, which became the T-6 Texan II.

[edit] Cost

According to an article posted on the Italian website 'Il Porto Franci', called 'Armi e finanziamenti nel corno d'Africa', Eritrea paid about $US 50 million for six MB-339 CE's in 1997. This is the original MB-339 with more advanced avionics for the ground attack role, RWR, uprated Viper 680-43 engine, and larger wingtip tanks. It is said to be capable of carrying Sidewinder AAM's, AGM-65 Maverick AGM's, and laser guided bombs. Unit price of the MB-339C would have to be somewhere around $US 8.3 million in 1997 dollars.

[edit] Specifications (MB-339A)

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 weight: 3,075 kg (6,780 lb)
Max takeoff weight: 4,400 kg (9,700 lb)
Powerplant: 1× Rolls-Royce Viper Mk. 632 , 4,000 lb_f (17.8 kN)

Performance

Maximum speed: 896 km/h (560 mph)
Range: 1,760 km (1,100 mi)
Service ceiling: 14,600 m (47,900 ft)

Armament

Up to 1,800 kg (4,000 lb) of weapons on six hardpoints, including AIM-9 AAMs, AGM-65 AGMs, Marte ASMs, gunpods, bombs, and rockets. (option for two 7.62mm miniguns or two 30mm DEFA cannon in CD-2 variant)