Photograph:
Macchi MB-308 24-5431 (c/n 79/5852) at Serpentine, WA in 2011 (D Welch)
Country of origin:
Italy
Description:
Two-seat light touring aircraft
Power Plant:
One 67 kw (90 hp) Continental C-90 four-cylinder horizontally-opposed air-cooled engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 10.02 (32 ft 9 in)
- Length: 6.55 m (21 ft 5 in)
- Height: 2.74 m (9 ft)
- Wing area: 13.6 m² (147 sq ft)
- Max speed: 202 km/h (126 mph
- Cruising speed: 170 km/h (106 mph)
- Landing speed: 68 km/h (42 mph)
- Service ceiling 5,998 m (19,680 ft) range: 724 km (450 miles)
- Empty weight: 409 kg (902 lb)
- Loaded weight: 619 kg (1,364 lb)
History:
Manufactured by Aeronautica Macchi SA at Varese in Italy, the MB-308 was built in two basic variants, the two-seat 308 and the three-seat 308G. Eighty were built for the Italian Air Force as trainers, and others were built for civil operators. Normally the Continental C-90 engine was fitted but other engines in the 45 kw to 67 kw (60 hp to 90 hp) range could also be installed. The type was developed from a pre-war design by Ermann Bazzocchi known as the PM-1, which was an all-wood cantilever monoplane with a CAN engine. The prototype MB-308 was completed in September 1946 but at the time the Allied Control Commission was administering post-war Italy and would not let it be flown or shown at the Milan Trade Fair. It eventually made its first flight on 19 January 1947.
The Model 308 was an unbraced high-wing monoplane with a tricycle undercarriage. It had a one-piece plywood covered wing. Engine initially to be fitted was the 45 kw (60 hp) CAN D.4 but as the Continental C-65 became available this was installed. Wooden floats could be fitted, and some had spats enclosing the wheels. Of the 80 built for the Italian Air Force, which were fitted with a 63 kw (85 hp) Continental C-85 engine driving an Elichsala two-blade propeller, the majority were leased to civil flying clubs for pilot training work.
After withdrawal from military service a number were released to private owners. The type was used for aerial photography, a door being removed, there being no wing struts. Dual bakelite control yokes were fitted and dual rudder controls. Some 182 were eventually completed, 136 in Italy and 46 in Argentina where the type was licence-built as the MB-308G, this model having an all-up weight of 689 kg (1,520 lb).
First of the type seen in this region was I-AHDF imported into New Zealand in 1997. The aircraft was imported by Felice di Napoli and was registered to his Company, Sky Arrow NZ Ltd, on 1 October 1998 as ZK-MDF. This aircraft (c/n 5851) after a short period was placed on the market for sale and in October 1999 was registered to General Avia South Ltd. It was cancelled on 17 September 2002 as exported to Australia, arriving in Brisbane, QLD in September 2003. It was conveyed to Serpentine, WA for restoration and the registration VH-MBZ was reserved. It was restored and subsequently became 24-5431 with the RAA, making its first post restoration flight on 17 August 2008 at Serpentine, WA where it has been based since.