AERMACCHI MB-339

The 'Aermacchi MB-339' is an Italian military trainer and light attack aircraft. It is a development of the company's earlier MB-326 that it was designed to replace.

Contents

Design and development

Variants

Operators

Specifications (MB-339A)

References

External links

Related content

Design and development

The MB-339 is of conventional configuration, and shares much of the 326's airframe. It has a low, un-swept 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.
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.
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.

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
::MB-339A version built for Malaysia.
;;MB-339AN
::MB-339A version built for Nigeria.
;;MB-339AP
::MB-339A version built for Peru.
;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 AGM-65 Maverick capability - 17 survivors - in storage at RNZAF Base Woodbourne, New Zealand)
;;MB-339CE
::MB-339C version built for Eritrea.
;;MB-339CM
::MB-339C version being built for Malaysia.
;MB-339CD
:Modernised flight controls and instrumentation.
;;MB-339FD ("Full Digital")
::Export version of the MB-339CD
;MB-339 T-Bird II (Lockheed T-Bird II)
:Version for U.S. JPATS competition.

Operators

;

★ 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.
;

★ Eritrean Air Force operates 6 MB-339CE.
;

★ Ghana Air Force operates 4 MB-339A
;

★ Italian Air Force operates 107 MB-339A and 30 MB-339CD.
;

★ Royal Malaysian Air Force operated 13 MB-339AM - 8 survivors.
;

★ Nigerian Air Force operates 12x MB-339AN.
;

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

★ Peruvian Air Force operates 16x MB-339AP.

Specifications (MB-339A)

References

External links

★ http://web.tiscali.it/aviationgraphic/iaf.html

★ http://www.oldcrow.it/SpecialColors/mb339_214_gruppo_foto_1.htm

★ http://www.oldcrow.it/indice_gallerie/651/MB339.htm

★ http://www.oldcrow.it/walkaround/MB339.htm

★ http://www.kiwiaircraftimages.com/mb339.html

★ Airliners.net

★ myaviation.net

★ http://www.planepictures.net/netsearch4.cgi?stype=actype&srng=1&srch=mb-339&offset=0&range=50

★ http://www.aviopress.com/search_result.asp?lang=it&page=1&isphoto=2&sessione=1

★ http://www.awti-decimo.com/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=1&page=1

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