- Yes
- No
Description: The AEM3 was a joint development that involved two companies, Aerfer and Aermacchi, in 1964 when the Italian army presented a request for a new recon aircraft for the Aviazione Leggera Dell’Esercito (Light Air Force Of The Army) to replace the old American aircraft that were still in service. It was mainly made as a recon aircrafts with light CAS capability. The first prototype, made by Aermacchi, achieved It’s first flight in May 12, 1967, and the second, made by Aerfer, in August 22, 1968. In the same year, the aircraft got the seaworthiness certificates for the Italian RAI and the FFA. After 1969, the Italian army tested it and endorsed it, but the standard versione was not witouth defects, so another version, called AEM3C was made. It was mainly used in the Italian Army, with some being exported to South Africa and Rwanda. Powered by a Continental GTSIO 520-C engine, the AEM3C was able to reach a max speed of 270 km/h in normal conditions, with a moderate payload, featuring various weapons from helicopters, like AS12 and 11 ATGM, 70 mm rokets, various gun pods and others.
Specifications:
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Engine: 1 Continental GTSIO 520-C with 340 HP.
Wingspan 11.73m
Length: 8.73m
Height: 2.75m
Wing surface: 19.04 m2
Empty weight: 930kg.
Total weight: 1,350kg.
Maximum total weight:1,500kg
Max speed at 0m: 270 km/h
Max speed at 4,900m: 308 km/h
Tangency: 8,900 m.
Autonomy: 850km
Crew:3 people
Weapons:
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4x double 7.62 machinegun mm gun pod
4x 7.62 mm Minigun pod
4x AS11 ATGM
4x AS 12 ATGM
4x 70 mm Hydra rokets pod
4x Napalms bombs
32x HVAR rokets
96x Butterfly bombs
Various Bombs and others rokets
Pictures:
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AM3 in the South African service with rokets and a night vision pod
http://aviadejavu.ru/Images6/JS/Janes/vol1/4/182-1.jpg
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