Update – Aermacchi 339

Probably the most successful postwar Italian aircraft, in terms of sales and export orders, is the Aermacchi 326 jet trainer. The obvious thing for the Italians to do in the early seventies, when 326 sales prospects had all but been satisfied, was to build a successor.

Aermacchi’s problem though is ironic in that most of the original MB-326 fleets have remained in operation longer than originally anticipated back in the sixties when the bulk of sales were made. Australia is a prime example of this situation where the northern Italian aircraft manufacturer is unable to interest the RAAF in a follow-on trainer while the current fleet of MB-326H soldiers on, albeit thanks to a wing life extension programme.

Aermacchi’s successor to the 326 was the 339. This aircraft featured an uprated 4000 lb thrust version (RAAF 326s have a 2500 lb thrust Viper) of the earlier Viper, a vastly improved cockpit with stepped second seating to allow full forward vision and an improved airframe to provide a full 10,000hour fatigue life. The339 first flew in August 1976 with initial production deliveries commencing in 1981 after an extensive flight test development programme.

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