- Yes - In the Tech Tree.
- Yes - Event/BP.
- Yes - Premium.
- No - I would not like to see the RNZAF’s MB-339CB in game.
NZ6474 firing CRV-7s on a range at a range (1994)
Description:
With the RNZAF’s advanced trainer, the BAC 167 Strikemaster Mk.88, affectionately called ‘Blunties’, developing cracks in the wings and tail due to corrosion and wear, a replacement was needed as soon as possible as to ensure that the critical advanced trainer role was kept without much downtime.
For this role, the new Aermacchi MB-339C was chosen, albeit with modifications for RNZAF service. These included the removal of the RWR, among other small avionics changes. They would keep the RR Viper 680-43 engine, which produced 4,400lbf (1,995kgf), unlike the Italian Air Force’s MB-339 ‘C’ derivative, the ‘CD’, which used the older RR Viper 632-43, which produced only 4,000 lbf (1,814kgf).
Other equipment remained the same as to cut down on cost, including the six Italian weapon rails, which differed to those fitted to the RNZAF’s A-4K Kahu’s. This choice however led the airframe to be compatible with many European munitions not in RNZAF stock. The presence of these weapon rails allowed for not only advanced pilot flight training, but also pilot weaponry training. To enhance range, 325L drop tanks were acquired for the type in addition to the fixed 500L wing tip types and internal fuel tanks.
MB-339CB Avionic equipment layout.
MB-339CB PDU (Pilot Display Unit) layout
NZ6475 flying over the weapons range at RNZAF Ohakea (2000)
History:
With the condition of the RNZAF’s BAC Strikemaster fleet rapidly deteriorating needing replacement, the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) put out a tender for their replacement in the late 1980s. This was called ‘Project Falcon’. Contenders included the BAE Hawk, Aermacchi MB-339C, SIAI-Machetti S.211, Casa C-101, Pilatus PC-9, and Dassault Alpha Jet.
Of these contenders the Hawk was the best performer, but also presented the greatest cost, and build time, which was a major consideration due to the Strikemaster’s. The Aermacchi MB-339C presented the RNZAF with a good cost to performance, and had a fast build time due to Aermacchi’s brand new assembly area. As such, Project Falcon’s recommendation was the purchase of 18 Aermacchi MB 339-C. Due to financial pressure, the tender could not be afforded to go wrong, and as such, the results and final finding had to go through eight different committees before any deal was made.
As such the RNZAF would purchase 18 of the MB-339CB in March 1990 for a cost of NZD $266 Million. With this purchase, the RNZAF would beat out the Italian air force in the purchase of the MB-339C, as that force only purchased their MB-339CD’s in 1996.
The airframes purchased would include the airframe serialized as I-TRON, which was the product verification airframe. This resulted in that aircraft having to be slightly modified to the same standard as the other aircraft. Deliveries would commence from the 19th of April 1991 with the first three aircraft being handed over, the other airframes would be shipped in groups of three at six month intervals.
They would operate with the serials NZ6460-6477, as part of No.14 Squadron RNZAF, in the advanced trainer role. Here they would bridge the gap between the PAC CT/4 Basic Trainer, and the A-4K Kahu strike aircraft. They would be based out of RNZAF Ohakea throughout their service.
Operationally the airframes would perform well, however, as the first operator of the RR Viper 680-43, some issues were encountered. These included water ingestion causing engine flameout from takeoffs on wet runways, compressor stalls during rapid acceleration and deceleration, cracks in the turbine blades resulting in a 300hr engine life limitation. There were also wiring and safety equipment defects. As a consequence the RNZAF held payment in 1995, however with RR agreeing to pay the cost of fixing them, payment recommenced. The engine life hrs limitation was raised sometime in 1996.
An aircraft firing a salvo of CRV-7 rockets towards a target towed by HMNZS Te Mana (1999)
Their service would include not only pilot and ground attack training, but also display flying, with the formation of the ‘Black Falcons’ aerobatic team in 2000. The pilots were RNZAF instructors from No.14 Squadron, however only one aircraft would be fully plumbed for smoke discharge operations, so while flying in airshows, one aircraft would disperse smoke from the tail, and the others from two smoke discharges mounted to the wing stations. This group would perform across Auckland, Wanaka, and Ohakea.
During their service, one airframe would be written off, NZ6465, when on the 13th of October 1993 the aircraft suffered a foreign object ingestion resulting in severe vibration and loss of power. Both aircrew, PO C.J. Foster and LAC S.E. would eject, and the aircraft would crash into the Awanui Estuary. Both pilots suffered back injuries due to their ejection, as they landed on mangroves and mud. The airframe would be written off as unrepairable, and was given to the RNZAF Museum when it was recovered.
On the 28th of November 1994, NZ6460 would suffer a FOD ingestion on takeoff, causing a flameout. This resulted in the aircraft making a wheels up landing at Ohakea. Although damage was severe, it was returned to Italy for repair, and was back in service by 1997. NZ6467 would also suffer a wheels up landing on the 15th of April 1992, but was repaired in NZ. NZ6468 would have her undercarriage collapse underneath her during landing and was partially repaired. NZ6477 suffered a bird strike on the canopy, and was forced to land at Hamilton in April 1999.
With the new Labour government scrapping the RNZAF Strike force on the 8th of May 2001 as part of a defence review, the RNZAF’s A-4K Kahu would be sold without replacement. Due to this, there was no reason to keep the jet training aircraft, as they had nothing to train for. As such, the RNZAF’s Macchis would be placed into storage at Ohakea on the 13th of December 2001, and No.14 Squadron disbanded.
All 17 remaining aircraft were kept in storage, albeit flown occasionally until 2012, when nine were sold to Draken International for a sum of $800,000. This deal also included 18 engines, spares, and consumables. Aircraft sold in this deal include NZ6461, NZ6462, NZ6463, NZ6467, NZ6470, NZ6473, NZ6474, NZ6476, and NZ6477.
The other airframes not sold in this deal were given to museums around NZ for presentation, these included Croydon Aviation Museum, the Biggin Hill Historic Aircraft Centre, at RNZAF Ohakea, Warbirds Museum Ardmore, Classic Flyers Museum Tauranga, Wanaka Transport Museum, Museum of Transport and Technology (MOTAT), Ashburton Aviation Museum, and RNZAF Museum Wigram
Two of the airframes sold to Draken would be leased to SDTS France. The leased aircraft include NZ6470, renumbered as N344EM, and NZ6476, now N348EM. While in service with SDTS, N348EM would crash on the 10th of October 2023, with both pilots ejecting. The airframe was written off, and NZ6472, the aircraft given to Biggin Hill Historic Aircraft Centre, would be sold to SDTS in 2025 to replace it.
No further airframes have been scrapped at this point.
| Dimensions: | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ||||||
| Length: 11.242m (36.88m) | ||||||
| Height: 3.994m (13.10ft) | ||||||
| Wing Span: 11.220m (36.81ft) | ||||||
| Wing Area: 19.3sqm (208sqft) | ||||||
| Weight (Dry): 3,430kg (7,561lb) | ||||||
| Weight (Gross): 6,150kg (13,560lb) | ||||||
| Crew: 2, each with a set of controls. | ||||||
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ||||||
| Engine Performance: | ||||||
| Engine: 1x1 Rolls Royce Viper 680-43 @ 4,400lbf (1,995kgf) of thrust | ||||||
| Reheat: No | ||||||
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ||||||
| Aerial Performance: | ||||||
| Climb Rate (clean): 37 m/s (7283 ft/min) | ||||||
| Maximum Speed (sea level) : 902 kph (560mph) | ||||||
| Never exceed speed: 926kph (575mph) | ||||||
| Endurance: 1,170km (730miles) | ||||||
| Ceiling: 14,996m (49,200ft) | ||||||
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ||||||
| Avionics: | ||||||
| Radar altimeter: Honeywell HG8505AM01 | ||||||
| IFF: Bendix AN/APX -100 | ||||||
| HUD & Weapons computer: Kaiser / VDO Sabre | ||||||
| MFD: Aeritalia 033010 |
Note: I am splitting the armament section into two, service armament, and compatible armament, I am doing this due as there are numerous stores that could be carried by the MB-339CB, but were not in RNZAF stocks.
Service Armament:
| Rockets: | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ||||||
| 70mm CRV-7 in 6-tube LAU-5002, 19-tube LAU-5003, or 2-tube BRD*. BRD limited to stations 2-5, other pods can be fitted 1-6. | ||||||
| (*Bomb Rocket Dispenser, designation BRD-4-2CRV7) | ||||||
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ||||||
| Bombs: | ||||||
| Mk 82 500lb bomb, with and without Snake Eye kits. One per station (6 total) | ||||||
| Mk.76 Practice bomb, 4x mounted in BRD. Can be fitted to stations 2-5 (20 max). | ||||||
| Mk.33 Practice bomb, 4x mounted in BRD. Can be fitted to stations 2-5 (20 max). | ||||||
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ||||||
| Guns Pods: | ||||||
| 1x12.7mm (0.50 inch) AN/M3, 350rpg. Stations 3&4 for a max of 2. | ||||||
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ||||||
| Guided Missiles: | ||||||
| AIM-9 L. Stations 1&6 for a max of 2. Wired and in RNZAF stock, but not cleared for service. | ||||||
| AGM-65D. Stations 1&6 for a max of 2. Wired and in RNZAF stock, but not cleared for service. | ||||||
| External fuel pods: | ||||||
| 325L drop tank. Stations 2&5 for a max of 2 | ||||||
| 500L wing tank. One per wing tip for a max of 2 | ||||||
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ||||||
| Other: | ||||||
| Smoke tank. Stations 3&4 for a max of 2 | ||||||
| Luggage container. Stations 3&4 for a max of 2 |
Compatible Armament:
| Rockets: | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ||||||
| 70mm CRV-7 in 6-tube LAU-5002, 19-tube LAU-5003, or 2-tube BRD*. BRD limited to stations 2-5, other pods can be fitted on stations 1-6. | ||||||
| 127mm ZUNI in 4-tube LAU-10 pod. One pod can be fitted to stations 1-6 | ||||||
| 70mm FFARs, in either 7-tube LAU-32, 19-tube LAU-51. One pod can be fitted to stations 1-6 | ||||||
| 68mm SNEB in 6-tube F2, or 18-tube F4 pods. One pod can be fitted to stations 1-6 | ||||||
| 100mm SNEB in 4-tube F3. One pod can be fitted to stations 1-6 | ||||||
| 50mm LR-25 in 18-tube AL-18-50 or 25-tube AL-25-50A. One pod can be fitted to stations 1-6 | ||||||
| 81mm SNORA 12-tube SAL-12-80 or 6-tube SAL-6-80. One pod can be fitted to stations 1-6 | ||||||
| 122mm SNIA BP in 4-tube SAL-4-122. One pod can be fitted to stations 1-6 | ||||||
| (*Bomb Rocket Dispenser, designation BRD-4-2CRV7) | ||||||
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ||||||
| Bombs: | ||||||
| Mk 82 500lb bomb, with and without Snake Eye and ballute kits. One per station (6 total) | ||||||
| Mk.76 Practice bomb, 4x mounted in BRD. Can be fitted to stations 2-5 (20 max). | ||||||
| Mk.33 Practice bomb, 4x mounted in BRD. Can be fitted to stations 2-5 (20 max). | ||||||
| SAMP 250kg bomb (Hi and Lo Drag). One per station (6 total) | ||||||
| Aerea 559G1 incendiary bomb. One per station (6 total) | ||||||
| BAP 100 anti-runway bombs. Stations 2&5 for a max of 2x9 | ||||||
| BAT 120 anti-convoy bombs. Stations 2&5 for a max of 2x6 | ||||||
| BL 775 cluster bombs. One per station (6 total) | ||||||
| Mk.7 Cluster dispenser for Mk 20 Rockeye II. One per station (6 total) | ||||||
| BLG 66 Beluga Cluster bomb. One per station (6 total) | ||||||
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ||||||
| Guns Pods: | ||||||
| 1x12.7mm (0.50 inch) AN/M3 350rpg. Stations 3&4 for a max of 2. | ||||||
| 1x30mm DEFA 553 cannon, 300rpg. Stations 3&4 for a max of 2. | ||||||
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ||||||
| External fuel pods: | ||||||
| 325L drop tank. Stations 2&5 for a max of 2 | ||||||
| 500L wing tank. One per wing tip for a max of 2 | ||||||
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ||||||
| Guided missiles: | ||||||
| AIM9 Sidewinder, P, L. Stations 1&6 for a max of 2. | ||||||
| Matra R.550 Magic. Stations 1&6 for a max of 2. | ||||||
| AGM-65B/D Maverick. Stations 2&5 (?) | ||||||
| OTO Melara Marte MK2A. Stations 2&5 for a max of 2 | ||||||
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ||||||
| Other: | ||||||
| Smoke tank. Stations 3&4 for a max of 2 | ||||||
| Luggage container. Stations 3&4 for a max of 2 | ||||||
| Super Lepus parachute flare. One per station (6 total) | ||||||
| ELT-555 jamming pod. Stations 3 or 4. (?) | ||||||
| Combined smoke & fuel tank. Stations 3&4 for a max of 2 |
NZ6463 pre-delivery to the RNZAF carrying some of the armaments not used in RNZAF service (1991)
Extra Photos:
Sources:
RNZAF MB-339CB Flight manual, PI 1T-MB339C-1
P.Jackson (2003) Jane’s All the Worlds Aircraft 2003-2004. (pp. 276-278)
https://airforcemuseum.co.nz/aircraft/aermacchi-mb-339cb/
https://nzwarbirds.org.nz/our-collection/the-jet-age/aermacchi-mb-339cb/
Kiwi Aircraft Images: MB339-CB
http://www.nzdf-serials.co.nz/nzdf-serials/rnzaf-macchi339
https://aeropedia.com.au/content/macchi-mb-339cb/
https://rnzaf.proboards.com/thread/11805/evaluation-jet-trainers
https://australianaviation.com.au/1996/05/more-rnzaf-macchis-returning-to-service/
https://rnzaf.proboards.com/thread/19428/aermacchis-sold
https://www.scramble.nl/military-news/french-aggressor-company-sdts-goes-solo
Bird strike Accident Aermacchi MB-339CB N349EM, Tuesday 10 October 2023
