Aermacchi MB-326

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Aermacchi MB-326
Type:	light school and fighter aircraft
Design country:	Italy
Manufacturer:	Aermacchi
First flight:	December 10, 1957
Commissioning:	February 1962
Production time:	1961-1975
Number of pieces:	~ 800

The Aermacchi MB-326 was a two-seat jet trainer from the Italian manufacturer Aermacchi .

history

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The cockpit of an MB-326A

In 1953, the chief engineer Ermanno Bazzocchi began at Aermacchi with the independent development of a light, jet-powered training aircraft that was also to be used as a light fighter aircraft. In 1954 it was presented to the government and in 1956 the Luftwaffe confirmed interest in the project, only with the modification of the original twin cockpit design (with two seats next to each other) into a tandem cockpit with seats one behind the other, without the increase in the second one that was later common for training aircraft Seat.

On December 10, 1957, the first of two prototypes, I-MAKI, took off for its maiden flight with a Viper-8 turbojet engine from Armstrong Siddeley with a static thrust of 794 kp. The second prototype I-MAHI was equipped with the more powerful Viper-11 with 1134 kp static thrust. Even before the end of the trial in March 1959, Macchi had received an order for 15 of these machines, which was expanded to 100 aircraft in March 1960. In the same year the first pre-series aircraft flew with the definitive equipment and after deliveries to the pilot school began in March 1962, the MB-326 fleet was operational.

Originally designed as a two-seater, the potential of this aircraft as a light combat aircraft was later recognized - with the appropriate engine equipment. The single-seat version MB-326K was made in Italy for export. South Africa produced this type under license as the Atlas Impala Mk 2 in considerable numbers.

The MB-326 is considered the most successful model from Aermacchi and has been in production for over 20 years. A further development based on the MB-326 was the Aermacchi MB-339 , which entered service in the late 1970s.

The aircraft was very popular with the Aeronautica Militare and the machines remained in use until 1990, when an aircraft, whose pilot was saved by an ejector seat, crashed into a school. The whole fleet was immediately grounded, aircraft that landed abroad were no longer allowed to fly back to their home base. The machines remained standing for years because it was not clear whether the aircraft had been passed on to the training command, i.e. to whom the aircraft belonged at all, and who could therefore have them scrapped.

Versions

MB-326A

This version was the first modification of the basic model, designed as a light ground attack aircraft and equipped with six suspension devices for various weapon systems such as bombs, automatic cannons or rocket containers. However, this version was not built in series due to the lack of interest from the Italian Air Force.

MB-326B

The MB-326B was a slightly modified MB-326A specially tailored to the requirements of the Tunisian Air Force for a light ground attack aircraft. Aermacchi delivered eight machines of this type.

MB-326D

Four of this unarmed training variant for Alitalia were produced in 1963.

MB-326E

Like the MB-326G and MB-326GB (see there), this version was structurally reinforced, but not yet equipped with the more powerful G-series engine. Six machines in this series were newly built, and another six were built from conversions of older MB-326s.

MB-326F

The MB-326F was designed similar to the MB-326B, but tailored to the requirements of the Ghanaian Air Force , which received nine aircraft of this type.

MB-326G

The MB-326G was a prototype with which a more powerful Rolls-Royce Viper 540 turbine was tested. The extra thrust made it necessary to reinforce the cell accordingly. In this reinforced version, the MB-326 could carry almost double the weapon load of the original model.

MB-326GB

This version was the production version of the 326G, of which a total of 45 copies were delivered to the air forces of Argentina, Zaires and Zambia.

MB-326H

This fully armed version was developed for the Australian Air Force; The Australian Air Force received 87 machines and the Australian naval aviators 10 copies. The MB-326H was partly assembled by the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation (CAC) from parts supplied by Aermacchi, but partly also completely manufactured by the Australian company under a license agreement.

MB-326K / Atlas Impala Mk 2

The MB-326K was the single-seat version of the MB-326, which was developed after it was realized that the machine would usually only be manned by one crew member when used as a ground attack aircraft. To make the MB-326 even more agile, the first prototype (first flight on August 22, 1970) of this version was equipped with the Rolls-Royce Viper 540 engine, which was even more powerful than the Viper 11. The second prototype was then equipped with the Viper 632-71 as the final drive variant and subjected to first flight tests in 1971.
The MB-326K was more heavily armed than its two-seat counterpart; An electrically operated twin automatic cannon was housed in the bow, the devices and ammunition containers housed there in the two-seater version as well as an additional tank could be accommodated in the single-seater in place of the second seat. The MB-326K could not only be used as a ground attack aircraft, but was also used as a reconnaissance aircraft when appropriately equipped with cameras or as an interceptor with suitable weapons technology.
In 1974 the MB-326K found its first buyers; three machines were ordered from Dubai , and another seven machines were received by the South African Air Force . In 1975 South Africa received another 15 machines in parts, which were assembled there by Atlas Aircraft Corporation . As with the two-seater MB-326M, a license agreement between Aermacchi and Atlas for the construction of the MB-326K followed. The aircraft was manufactured in large numbers as the Atlas Impala Mk 2, but with modified avionics equipment and the weaker Viper 540 engine. Other MB-326K manufactured by Aermacchi were sold to Ghana and Tunisia. It is certainly interesting that Aermacchi initially intended to designate this version as MB-336 due to the considerable deviations from the two-seater basic design; however, it was ultimately refrained from.

MB-326L

This version was a variant of the MB-326K type, i.e. it was equipped with the Viper 632-71 engine, but in a two-seater version. One of these machines equipped with double controls was delivered to Dubai, four more MB-326L received the Tunisian Air Force.

MB-326M / Atlas Impala Mk 1

The MB-326M was developed by Aermacchi for the South African Air Force. 40 pieces of this model were delivered fully assembled to South Africa and another 125 from the South African company Atlas Aircraft Corporation under the name Atlas Impala Mk 1 were assembled from parts or built completely under license. Only the copies built entirely in South Africa were equipped with weapon carriers.

MB-326O

The MB-326O was an unarmed version ordered by the Italian airline Alitalia for pilot training.

EMB 326GB Xavante

The Brazilian company Embraer manufactured a large number of the MB-326 under this name under license for the air forces of Brazil , Paraguay and Togo . The first flight took place on September 7, 1971. It was designated AT-26 by the Brazilian Air Force and was used for 36 years.

The Brazilian Air Force received 167 of the 182 Xavantes built, while 9 were delivered to Paraguay and 6 to Togo.

User states

•  Argentina (8 MB-326GB), marine
•  Australia (97 MB-326H)
  • 87 Royal Australian Air Force
  • 10 Royal Australian Navy Fleet Air Arm
•  Brazil (167 MB-326GC (AT-26 Xavante))
•  Dubai (3 MB-326K; 1 MB-326L)
•  Ghana (9 MB-326F; 6 MB-326K)
•  Italy (4 MB-326D; 12 MB-326E)
•  Cameroon
  • 8 ( L'Armée de l'Air du Cameroun )
•  Paraguay (10 EMB-326GBs / AT-26 Xavante)
•  Zambia (20MB-326GB)
•  South Africa
  • MB-326M (Impala Mk I)
    • 40 pieces built in Italy (training aircraft, unarmed)
    • 125 pieces supplied as a kit / manufactured under license (armed)
  • MB-326K / Impala Mk II
    • 7 pieces built in Italy
    • 15 pieces delivered as a kit
    • approx. 50 manufactured under license
•  Togo (3 MB-326GC (AT-26 Xavante))
•  Tunisia (8 MB-326B; 4 MB-326L; 8 MB-326K)
•  United Arab Emirates (6)
•  Zaire (17MB-326GB)

Technical specifications

Three-sided view of the Aermacchi MB-326

Parameter	MB-326A, B, D, E, F, H, M	MB-326G, GB, H and M	MB-326K, L
crew	2		1
length	10.65 m	10.67 m
Wingspan (with wing end tanks)	10.56 m	10.85 m
height	3.72 m
Wing area	19.00 m²	19.35 m²
Empty mass	2618 kg (E)	2685 kg (GB)	3123 kg
Max. Takeoff mass	3765 kg	4535 kg; 5226 kg with external loads	5897 kg
drive	a Rolls-Royce Viper 11-Mk 45 jet engine with 1134 kg of thrust	a Rolls-Royce Viper 20-Mk 45 jet engine 1547 kg of thrust	a Rolls-Royce Viper 632-43 jet engine 1814 kg of thrust
Top speed	806 km / h at sea level	867 km / h at sea level (unarmed)	890 km / h at an altitude of 1525 m (excluding external loads)
Service ceiling	12,500 m	14,325 m (unarmed), 11,900 m (armed)
Rate of climb	15.75 m / s (B, GB; armed)		33 m / s at sea level (unarmed)
Range	1665 km with max. Fuel supply, 1850 km with additional tanks		2130 km with additional tanks

Others

The name refers to the developer, "M" stands for Macchi and "B" for the chief developer Bazzocchi. Before the jet trainer, Macchi had designed another aircraft under the name MB-326, the development of which was not pursued further.

See also

• List of aircraft types

literature

• Types of aircraft in the world . Bechtermünz, 1997, ISBN 3-86047-593-2 , p. 11/12

Web links

Commons : Aermacchi MB-326  - Album with pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

1. ↑ High Macchi Flying , pp. 492-494; Flight International September 20, 1962
2. ↑ Flight International, special issue EMBRAER at 50 , May 2019 (English), p. 8.
3. ^ Erwan de Cherisey: Upping its Game . In: Air Forces Monthly . No. 4 . Key Publishing, April 2016, ISSN  0306-5634 , p. 82-89 .