Country of origin:

Italy

Description:

Two-seat basic military trainer

Power Plant:

One 2,500 lbst Pratt & Whitney (Canada) JT15D-4C turbofan

Specifications:

Armament:

Various loads on four underwing stations. Typical load: two 20 mm or four 12.7 mm gun pods; or four 50 mm, seven 2.75 in, or six 68 mm rockets; up to 150 kg (330 lb) of bombs.

History:

The S-211 was designed in Italy by Siai Marchetti to meet a need for a cheap-to-buy-and-operate light jet military trainer which could be used for some of the primary training introduction phase.  It is a tandem two-seat aircraft with Martin Baker Mk 10 zero-zero ejection seats fitted with a JT115D-4C turbofan and is fitted with four hardpoints under the wings.  The first of three prototypes flew on 10 April 1981 and the first production aircraft for the first customer, the Republic of Singapore Airforce, flew on 4 October 1984.  Siai Marchetti is a component of the Agusta Group, and the S.211 was developed as a private venture to meet the requirements of air forces which could not afford the cost of expensive jet trainers.  The type was not sold in large numbers, 32 examples going to the Singapore Air Force (23 in kit form), deliveries commencing in November 1984; four to Haiti; and 18 to the Philippine Air Force.

The aircraft supplied to the Philippine Air Force comprised 18 aircraft in two variants. By 2005 only four remained in service, a further four re-entering service later after completion of a major structural inspection and repair work carried out by Aerotech Industries.  Aircraft with a serial commencing with an 0 (eg 024 on the nose – 09005 on the tail) were what became known as the Warrior variant equipped with pylons, gunsights and provision for an auxiliary fuel tank.  Those with a serial commencing with an 8 (eg 802 on the nose – 07002 on the tail) were operated as jet trainers and were later modified for the light attack role.  These aircraft mainly saw service for maritime patrol and training but could be armed with 12.7 mm (0.50 in) machine guns on the centreline hardpoint, multi-purpose bombs and rocket pods for counter insurgency and close air support operations.  They were operated by the 7th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Basa Air Base, this base formerly being used by the USAF as the Clark Air Force Base in the Philippines.

A total of 32 airframes was supplied to the RSAF, of which 24 were assembled by Singapore Aircraft Industries. Two aircraft were obtained from Haiti as attrition replacements in 1994.  No 130 Squadron operated a total of 25 airframes, seven being lost in accidents before replacement by the Pilatus PC-21 in 2008.  Four were then shipped from RAAF Pearce, WA to Singapore  where they were used as instructional airframes and at least one was placed in a museum.  No 131 Squadron RSAF also operated the type for training at RAAF Pearce and after that unit’s disbandment in 1996 its aircraft were transferred to No 130 Squadron.

In 1993 it was announced, because of congested airspace in Singapore, the RSAF was transferring its military training from Paya Lebar to RAAF Pearce, this involving the movement of the 30 S.211 trainers attached to Nos 130 “Eagle” and 131 “Harrier” Squadrons.  RSAF basic training was then carried out at Seletar and training to Wings standard was at Pearce.  At least one was seriously damaged in service at Pearce, turning over on landing, necessitating a rebuild.

A new variant of the design, the S.211A, first flew on 17 September 1992, differing from the baseline aircraft in having a JT15D-5 engine of 3,200 lbst, nosewheel steering, single-point pressure refuelling, and digital avionics.  In conjunction with Grumman, this model was tendered to the USAF for its new Joint Primary Aircraft Training System trainer [JPATS] but failed to receive an order.  Originally known as the SM.211, the type later became known as the Agusta S-211.

A new upgraded model of the S.211 was released for military services, known as the Aermacchi M-311.  The first example was flown in June 2005 and was basically an S.211 fitted with the M-311 avionics system.  It featured a fully integrated digital glass cockpit using mostly low-cost commercial off-the-shelf components, including two FV400 mission computers, a SparrowHawk HUD, three MFDs and HOTAS controls.  It differed from most military trainers in that it was fitted with a Pratt & Whitney JT15D-5C turbofan of 3,190 lbst.  It had a max take-off weight of 2,750 kg (6,063 lb) and a range of 1,796 km (1,116 miles).  Qantas Defence Services and Bombardier together offered the type to the RAAF to replace the Pilatus PC-9.

In 2008 the RSAF commenced to replace the S.211 fleet with the Pilatus PC-21 at Pearce and retired the S.211 aircraft from service, offering them for sale.  Twenty (serials 338, 339, 340, 342, 344, 345, 347, 348, 349, 380, 381, 385, 386, 389, 391, 392, 394, 396, 398 and 399) were offered and these were purchased by Sydney based International Air Parts, together with a full motion simulator, eight spare engines, a large inventory of spares, wing and fuselage jigs, and special tooling.  In October 2009 two of these were placed on the Australian Civil Aircraft Register as VH-BQY (c/n 27/02-017) and VH-BRQ6 (c/n 009/02-006 – ex 385 SAF) both to Royston Ferris of Mona Vale, NSW in October 2009.  The latter aircraft was exported to the United States on 20 March 2014 and became N27MJ.

Mr Ferris subsequently registered more examples, including VH-BZV (c/n 010/02-007) which was later exported to the United States in January 2011; VH-BZX (c/n 013/02010), VH-CGL (c/n 040/02.029), VH-CHK (c/n 031/02-0210), VH-CJU (c/n 037/02-026), VH-CKJ (c/n 036/02.025) and VH-DQJ (c/n 025/02-015 – ex 394).  However, there have been a number of movements of the type.

VH-DZJ (c/n 005/02-002) was registered to Mr Ferris in June 2001 and has been seen at a number of aviatin events around Australia, including Wings Over Illawarra in May 2017.  VH-DQJ (c/n 025/02-015 – ex 394) was registered on 9 May 2011; and in May 2011 VH-BQY and VH-CUX were exported to Italy where they became I-NHMM and I-MJET respectively.  However, in early 2017 the former VH-BQY returned to Australia and was noted at Parafield, SA with its Italian registration.

In March 2015 VH-CGL (c/n 040/02-029 348), VH-CJU (c/n 037/02-026 – ex 345) and VH-CKJ (c/n 036/02-025 – ex 344) were all removed from the Australian Register and exported to the United States where VH-CJU became N168FA on 26 April 2017.  The ultimate fate of c/n 023/02-013 (ex 392), which was noted at Bankstown, NSW in March 2015, is not known at this stage.  A further example became VH-SGB (c/n 02 017) registered on 9 October 2017 to Elektrika Pty Ltd of Richmond, VIC and operated by Stephen Gale of Richmond.