Aermacchi MB-339X

Il_Signor_Regio · October 31, 2023, 6:41am

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Description: The MB339 was an Italian jet trainer made in the 1970s. It was projected as the replacement for the MB326 by the same person who projected the MB326 itself, Ermano Bazzocchi. The first of the two MB339X prototypes flew for the first time on August 12, 1976, and the second on May 20, 1977. The main user of this aircraft was the Italian Air Force, with a total of over 126 aircraft in service, but it was also exported to other countries in smaller numbers and in different versions as well. The aircraft entered service with the Italian Air Force in 1979, and it is still in service today. This one, the MB339X, was the prototype version. Three prototypes of this version were made and aesthetically look very similar to the first production version, the MB339A. However, it had several differences, regardless of avionics and weapon hardpoints. Talking about the history of this version, the first MB339X (I-NOVE) was on August 12, 1976, with the second (I-NINE, later renamed I-MABX) following in the next year, on May 20, 1976. The third unit was used as a ground test bed for static stress and temperature tests. The two prorotypes were mainly used by the Italian company Aermacchi for all the tests related to the MB339A and for marketing at various air shows. Both units were taken over by the Italian Air Force and assigned to the Reparto di volo sperimentale. They were mainly used to test a good number of parts and weapons from the following versions. The second prototype, the I-NINE, was temporarily given to Aermacchi since they required a test bed for the new attack version of the MB339, the MB339K. After the I-NINE arrived, it was fitted with the engine of the K version, the VIPER 690, and it was renamed the I-MABX. In 1983, it was sent to Britain, where it performed various tests with the new engine. When it returned from Britain, it rejoined the first prototype in the Italian air force, and they remained operative in the air base of Pratica di Mare until their decommission. The fate of the first prototype is not very well known, while the second one was exposed as a gate guard near the base of Galatina. Talking about the difference compared to the A model, this one was fitted with a more powerful engine, the VIPER 690, and the possibility to use an additional under-fusulage bomb rack.

Why it should be in the game: It will be a different MB339A, that could be well placed into the line folded with the MB339A since the italian TT is missing every cas in the jets era.

Specifications

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Wingspan: 11.220 m
Length: 11.242 m
Height: 3.994 m
Crew: 2
Weight: 3430 kg
Max Take off Weight: 6150 kg
Max kg of Fuel: 1395 kg (1781 liters)
Engine: 1x Rolls RoyceViper 690
Max speed: 931 km/h
Max range: 2200 km
Rate of Climb: 41 m/s
Service Ceiling: 49,200 ft (14,996 m)
Range: 1170 km

Weapons

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Machineguns/Cannons
2x 30 mm DEFA cannons
2x 12.7 mm Browning machinegun
6x SUU-11 7.62 mm Minigun pod

Unguided bombs:
10x BL775
36x BAP-100 anty runway bombs
10x MK82
10x MK82 Snakeye
6x MK83
10x 118 kg bombs
10x SAMP-250 bombs
10x SAMP-250 re-tarded bombs
10x Matra Belouga
6x BLU-106 Durandal
10x BRF A-330
10x BR-500
24x BL83
10x LU 250 EG-FT
10x SEI low drag bombs
Unguided Rokets
24x TDA 100 mm rokets
6x 68 mm Matra roket launchers
12x 127 mm HVAR Rokets
6x 127 mm Matra roket launchers
24x Zuni mk-32 rokets launcher
6x Snora 81 mm rokets launchers
6x LR-25 rokets launcher
114x Mighty mouse rokets
72x Medusa 81 mm rokets launchers
24x SNIA BP 122 mm rokets launchers
Special:
ELT-555 jamming pod
6x Macchi 11B29-003 Bomb/Flares dispense