Aermacchi MB-339

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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.

Aermacchi MB-339

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.

Variants

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

Users

Frecce Tricolori at RIAT 2005 in their anniversary year.

• Italian Air Force (107x MB-339A, 15x 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)

Specifications (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 content

Comparable aircraft: BAE Hawk

Designation sequence: MB-338 - MB-339 - MB-340

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