Aermacchi MB 326 by Italeri

1/72 scale
Kit No. 1308
Retail: $35.00
Decals: Three versions – for the Air Forces of Italy, Brazil, and Australia
Comments: Raised and engraved panel lines, optional position dive brake, two-part canopy

History

The Aermacchi or Macchi MB-326 is a light military jet trainer designed and produced by the Italian aircraft manufacturer Aermacchi, chiefly employed to help novice military pilots transition from propeller-driven aircraft to jets. Simple and rugged, it developed a reputation as being extremely manageable and easy to fly. It is one of the most commercially successful aircraft of its type, being bought by more than 10 countries and produced under license in Australia, Brazil and South Africa — and became known as one of the Italian aircraft industry’s “best sellers” due to its popularity on the export market. It was not until the early 2000’s that it was replaced by more modern aircraft.

The MB-326 was developed during a period in which “all-through” jet training was considered by many air forces to be the most cost-effective model for training of military pilots. Accordingly, Aermacchi designed it as a single type of aircraft that could readily be perform both elementary and advanced training right through to a near combat-ready standard. Proposed during the 1950’s, the Italian Air Force (or AM, for Aeronautique Militaire) quickly became interested in the MB-326, and an initial contract to produce three prototypes was issued following a competition. Several design refinements were made prior to the AM giving its official approval of the project during 1956. On December 10, 1957, the first prototype performed its maiden flight. On December 15, 1958, the Italian government placed on order with Aermacchi for 15 pre-series aircraft; further orders soon followed.

During February 1962, the MB-326 formally entered service with the AM. Operational experience with the type demonstrated that the simplicity and economy of scale of operating just one type for all training purposes was usually outweighed by the purchase and operating costs of a large all-jet training fleet. Many operators soon switched to operating the MB-326 in conjunction with a cheaper piston-engined type for basic training purposes. Over time, the MB-326 found its primary role as a lead-in trainer to prepare pilots for transition to very high performance fighter aircraft. It set many category records, including an altitude record of 56,807 ft (17,315 m) on March 18, 1966. While the majority of operators were military, some civil organizations also flew the type; Italy’s national flag carrier Alitalia conducted pilot training using a handful of MB-326’s.

Over 800 MB-326’s were built between 1961 and 1975. Brazil was the biggest export customer for the MB-326, which included those aircraft built under license by Embraer. Licensed production of the type was also performed by Atlas Aircraft Corporation of South Africa. While the MB-326 had been originally conceived as a two-seat trainer, multiple single and two-seat light attack versions were also developed. Armed MB-326’s saw combat, the South African Defense Force opting to employ the type during the South African Border War against the People’s Armed Forces for the Liberation of Angola (FAPLA) and Cuban expeditionary troops in Angola between 1975 and 1989.

The MB-326 was one of the last Italian aircraft to hold the distinction of breaking multiple world records. Perhaps the most notable of these occurred in August 1961, when pilot Guido Carestiano set the C1D group 1 category altitude record of 15,489 meters. The record-breaking flights also provided publicity for the MB-326. In particular, one pilot, Massimo Ralli, was responsible for the establishment of several different records while flying the type:

• February 8,1966: Climbing records – 2 min 2 sec to 3,000 m, 3 min 56 sec to 6,000 m, 6 min 39 sec to 9,000 m, and 12,000 m in 10 min 53 sec.
• March 18, 1966: 15,690 m altitude record in horizontal flight, and 17,315 m with a launched climb.
• July 18, 1966: Endurance record, with 970 km
• August 2, 1966, speed record over a 3 km straight: 871 km/h
• December 1966: speed of 880.586 km/h over 15–25 km, 831.007 km/h over 100 km, 777.667 km/h over 500 km, and another endurance record at 777.557 km

On March 22, 1962, the MB-326 formally entered squadron service with 43° Flyer course. It soon replaced the aging North American T-6 Texan; typically, within the space of 130 hours, pilots would be as prepared to graduate as they would have been after receiving 210 hours training in the older T-6.

As a trainer, the MB-326 was considerably costlier but was greeted with enthusiasm by students. When used in combination with the Fiat G.91T advanced trainer, it enabled the enactment of an “entirely-jet” training course for AM pilots, and moreover these were domestically designed and produced aircraft. According to the aerospace publication Flight International, during the early 1960s the AM’s flight training program was heavily influenced by the impending entry into service of the Lockheed F-104G Starfighter.

The AM would be amongst the final customers of the late series MB-326. The service ordered a batch of 12 MB-326E, comprising six MB-326 updated to MB-326G, and six newly produced (MM.54384/389). They had provisions for armament, but the engine was the Viper 11 Mk 200 and not the Viper 20 Mk 540. In Italian service, the MB-326 was replaced by the MB-339 between 1981 and 1984, acting after that as fast linkage aircraft, replacing the old T-33s that were slightly faster. Unlike many successful trainers, the MB-326 did not see service with the Frecce Tricolori aerobatic team, who kept their faster G.91PANs until they were replaced by MB-339’s.

In addition to its Italian Air Force service, the MB-326 was employed in a civilian capacity within Italy. National flag carrier Alitalia placed an order for four trainer-configured aircraft, designated as the “D” version; these were demilitarized and equipped with specialized instrumentation in order to train the airline’s pilots in preparation for the arrival of the new generation of jetliners Alitalia was procuring.

Operators:

• Italy
• Australia
• South Africa
• Brazil
• Argentina

The Kit

Italeri’s 1/72 scale Aermacchi MB 326 is injection molded in grey plastic and consists of 60 parts, including two clear parts for the canopy. The cockpit is fairly basic with a single tub into which everything is cemented. It includes nicely engraved ejection seats with separation overhead ejection actuator loops, individual control yokes and decals for the tandem instrument panels.

Construction is straightforward with two fuselage halves, wings consist of upper and lower halves and feature integrally molded wing fences, and engraved panel lines for the control surfaces only. Each of the elevators is a single part, with two-part wingtip tanks. Landing gear are fairly well detailed but otherwise unremarkable. What is odd about this kit is the fact that it includes a small amount of underwing ordnance in the form of two rocket pods along with wing-mounted drop tanks and the necessary pylons for everything, but the instructions do not reference them at all. Modelers will decide on their own whether to build the kit as an armed trainer or light strike aircraft.

Markings

The kit provides markings for four versions representing three different air forces. The two Italian versions are both painted in overall Gloss Orange; one of them, Black 99, is a machine of 603 Squadriglia, 6 Stormo, based at Ghedi, circa 1989. The second, Black 6-76, is an aircraft of the Flight School attached to 61 Stormo, based at Galatina.

The Brazilian Air Force version is an aircraft of 3/10 GAV, Escaudron “Centauro,” based at Santa Maria Air Base circa 1998. It bears a camouflage scheme of what the kit identifies as “Light Hazelnut” and two unnamed Federal Standard Colors, FS 30079 and FS 34258. To this modeler’s eye, it appears to be a scheme of Flat Earth, Flat Green, and Dark Green over Flat Gull Grey.

Conclusion

This is a neat little kit of an Italian armed trainer of the 1960’s that saw success on the export market and remained in used at least into the late 1990’s. Highly recommended.

References

• wikipedia.org
• Italeri instructions