Aermacchi MB339B (I-GROW)

Il_Signor_Regio · October 14, 2023, 10:37pm

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Description: The MB339 was an Italian jet trainer made in the seventies. 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 specific version was the MB339B. This one is a pretty unknown variant, with only one unit constructed. The I-GROW (Italian Air Force serial number MM54502) was the only MB339B ever made. A lot of times, people and sites misunderstand this unit as being an A variant, despite the fact that it isn’t. This version, technologically speaking, is between the A and the C. The unit was basically an MB339A fitted with some of the upgrades from the C variant, such as the avionics, the weapons, and a new engine, the rolls roice Viper 680-582 (this engine was not present on the C or the A, it was an unique feature of the B). At the start, the aircraft was used by Aermacchi for testing and marketing. It was fitted in 1993 with the refeuling probe, some of the CD avionics, and its engine was modified again. At the end of those tests and campaigns made by Aermacchi, the aircraft was put into service in the Italian Air Force and it was used for training like the others MB339. Its fate is unknown but It’s possible that the aircraft is still in service with the Italian air force today.

Why it should be in the game: Alongside the other MB339 version this one could be a very good addition to the Italian attacker line that as for now is basically empty.

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 680-582 Turbojet with 19.57 kN of trusth
Max Speed: over 900 km/h
Rate of Climb: 37 m/s (7283 ft/min)
Service Ceiling: 49,200 ft (14,996 m)
Range: 1170 km

Armaments

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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:
6x BL775
36x BAP-100 anty runway bombs
6x MK82
6x MK82 Snakeye
4x MK83
6x 118 kg bombs
6x SAMP-250 bombs
6x SAMP-250 re-tarded bombs
6x Matra Belouga
6x BLU-106 Durandal
6x BRF A-330
6x BR-500
24x BL83
6x LU 250 EG-FT
6x 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 LR-25 rokets launcher
114x Mighty mouse rokets
72x Medusa 81 mm rokets launchers
24x SNIA BP 122 mm rokets launchers
Air to Groud missile
4x AGM65A/G maveriks
Anty ships missiles
2x OTO Melara Marte MK2A
Air To Air missiles
2x AIM9L
2x Matra Magic 550
2x AIM9J
Special
ELT-555 jamming pod
6x Macchi 11B29-003 Bomb/Flares dispense