Aermacchi AL-60
Aermacchi AL-60 | |
---|---|
Type: | Liaison aircraft Light transport aircraft |
Design country: | |
Manufacturer: | |
First flight: |
1959 |
Commissioning: |
1960 |
Number of pieces: |
~ 250 |
The Aermacchi AL-60 is a light, short-range liaison and multi-purpose aircraft produced by the Italian company Aermacchi .
history
In 1959, Lockheed engineer Al Mooney developed the robust L-402 bush plane. Lockheed only built two prototypes and the US company Kaiser built a few series copies. The joint venturebetween Lockheed and the Mexican company Azacarte SAI built a total of 44 machines under the designation LASA-60, including machines specially equipped for agriculture. In 1961, Aermacchi acquired the license to produce the machine from Lockheed and, from April 1961, produced 84 machines of the AL-60B-1 and B-2 Santa Maria versions. In addition to some civil aircraft, the military version marketed as the AL-60 “Trojan” was built for the Italian armed forces and some African countries. The type was still only a moderate success and was not produced for long. The Mexican Aviation Administration bought 18 AL-60s for search and rescue. The military variant AL-60C-5 Conestoga, also with three-point landing gear, was delivered to Central Africa, Canada and (as the F-5 Trojan) to the former Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe).
Aermacchi produced a total of around 200 machines, some of which are still in use today. A licensee was found for the military Al-60C in the South African Atlas Aircraft GmbH, who sold the machine as the C4M Kudu.
construction
The wings of the high-wing aircraft have normal ailerons and hand-operated Fowler flaps . The fixed tricycle undercarriage consists of tubular steel brackets and horizontal oil pressure shock absorbers under the cabin floor. The AL-60C has a rear wheel landing gear. The pilot and possibly a second pilot sit next to each other, behind them there is space for two three-seater benches. For the transport of the wounded, the AL-60 can accommodate two stretchers, a lightly wounded person sitting down and a paramedic. The main loading port is on the right. A second sliding door as an exit for parachutists or for dropping goods is located at the rear left.
Military users
Technical specifications
Parameter | Data |
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crew | 1-2 |
Passengers | 5-6 |
length | 8.55 m |
span | 11.90 m |
height | 3.25 m |
Wing area | 19.50 m² |
payload | ? kg |
Empty mass | 1000 kg |
Max. Takeoff mass | 1750 kg |
Cruising speed | 227 km / h |
Top speed | 246 km / h |
Service ceiling | 4150 m |
Range | 1037 km at max. Full tank |
Engines | a 6-cylinder boxer engine Continental TSIO-470-B with 194 kW |