Country of origin:

Italy

Description:

Two-seat advanced training and light attack aircraft

Power Plant:

One 4,400 lbst Rolls Royce Viper 680-43 turbojet licence built by Fiat

Specifications:

For some years the New Zealand Government considered a replacement for the ageing and fatigue prone Strikemasters with No 14 Squadron at Ohakea and, after postponing selection a number of times, announced the purchase of either 16 or 18 MB-339Cs in early 1990, the RNZAF eventually receiving 18 aircraft with the serials NZ6460 to NZ6477.

In the seventies Aermacchi looked at a number of options related to producing a successor to the MB-326, consideration being given to fitting it with a number of engines including single or twin Rolls Royce Vipers, Larzac, Adour, RB401 or TFE731 turbofan, eventually choosing the Viper 600 series. The prototype MB-339 (I-NOVE) flew on 12 August 1976, being followed by the second prototype (I-NINE) on 20 May 1977.  A major cost saving in the new design was the use of much of the fuselage of the MB-326K, only the forward fuselage with the cockpit and taller tail being new. Martin Baker Mk 10 zero-zero ejection seats were fitted. Total fuel capacity was 1,413 litres (311 Imp gals) but this could be supplemented by 340 litre (75 Imp gal) drop tanks on the centre pylons.

First production model was the MB-339A trainer, 101 being supplied to the Italian Air Force. Other variants included the MB-339RM for calibration duties; and the MB-339K single-seat attack aircraft, the prototype of which first flew on 30 May 1980. This model had an up-rated Viper Mk 680 engine, internal cannon and greater fuel capacity. The MB-339B had the Mk 680 engine and was a two-seater with ground attack capability. The MB-339C prototype first flew on 17 December 1985 and differed in having digital avionics and up-rated capability; and the MB-339D was a proposed variant with a Pratt & Whitney JT-15D turbofan. The MB-339 series was a development of the MB-326 and was supplied to the air forces of Italy, Argentina, Peru, Malaysia, Nigeria and Dubai.

Deliveries of MB-339CBs to the RNZAF commenced in March 1991 to fill the advanced training role, and later the strike and transition aircraft role, being attached to No 14 Squadron based at Wigram. One was lost in service, NZ6465 (c/n 6795/169/CB006) having engine problems and crashing into mangrove swamps in Rangauna Harbour, Kaitaia, after the crew ejected. In 2003, after a change of Government, the purchase of the General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon was cancelled and the Government decided to disband the attack elements of the RNZAF, including the Douglas Skyhawk squadrons. It was also decided to take the MB-339 out of service, the aircraft being placed in storage until a purchaser was found.

On 11 December 2001 a farewell fly-over was made of towns on New Zealand’s North Island, and two days later a fly-over was made of their home base before being retired. In 2005 the New Zealand Government announced the surviving 17 Skyhawks and 17 MB-339s had been sold to Tactical Air Services in the United States and would be initially returned to airworthiness in New Zealand. However, in mid 2006 they were still in storage, a couple being kept airworthy, but the sale did not proceed.

In 2011 the New Zealand Government announced MB-339s would be supplied to up to nine museums, with the remainder remaining at RNZAF Woodbourne as non-flying training aids.  Eventually in 2012 the other survivors were sold to Draken International of Lakeland, Florida, and the aircraft so exported were: NZ6461 (c/m 6790/165CB002) which became N339EM in March 2013; NZ6462 (c/n 6783/166/CB003) which became N341EM; NZ6463 (c/n 6792/167/CB004) which became N342EM; NZ6467 (c/n 6798/17/CB008) which became N343EM; NZ6470 (c/n 6801/174/CB011) which became N344EM; NZ6473 (c/n 6806/177/CB014) which became N346EM; NZ6474 (c/n 6807/178/CB015) which became N347EM; NZ6476 (c/n 6829/180/CB017) which became N348EM; and NZ6477 (c/n 6830/181/CB018) which became N349EM.

The remaining MB-339CBs were placed in storage pending delivery to museums. Museums to which they were allotted included the RNZAF Museum at Wigram.  These aircraft include: NZ6460 (c/n 6786/164/CB001); NZ6464 (c/n 6794/168/CB005); NZ6466 (c/n 6797/170/CB007); NZ6468 (c/n 6799/172/CB009); NZ6469 (c/n 6800/173/CB009); NZ6471 (c/n 6802/175/CB012); NZ6472 (c/n 6805/176/CB0-13); and NZ6475 (c/n 6828/169/CBH016).  One has been delivered to the Classic Fighters Museum at Tauranga and another to a museum at Ardmore.

In 1995 the Aermacchi MB-339FD was a contender for the RAAF’s AIR 5367 Lead-in Fighter project, which was eventually won by the British Aerospace Hawk.  Lockheed and Aermacchi had offered a development of the MB-339 named the T-Bird II to meet the US Air Force and Navy’s JPATS trainer requirement, which was eventually won by a modified Pilatus PC-9, known as the Beech Texan Mk II.

The MB-339FD was the most advanced development of the basic MB-339, being based on the MB-339C with the same engine and many common systems, and was developed primarily in response to an Italian Air Force requirement.   It had six underwing hard-points designed to accommodate a full range of NATO and US standard weapons, including two 30 mm DEFA gun-pods, AIM-9 Sidewinder or Matra Magic air-to-air missiles, AGM-65 Maverick air-to-ground missiles, bombs, rockets and OIO Melera Martel Mk II anti-ship missiles.

On 6 Sepember 2019 the six ex-RNZAF aircraft operated by Draken International at Lakeland, Florida and which had been used as tactical fighter trainers and close air-support aircraft in a civilian role for the US miltiary were retired, these aircraft including N339EM (ex NZ6461), N341EM (ex NZ6462), N342EM (ex NZ6467), and N346EM (ex NZ6473). One N348EM (ex NZ6476) was transferrred to TVPX Aircraft Solicitors of North Salt Lake City in March that year.  It is believed they were retired as Draken International had obtained 22 Dassault Mirage F.1Ms and 12 Atlas Cheetahs and these took over the role.