MB-339
Aermacchi · Italy · first flew 1976 · fighter
An Italian single-turbojet advanced trainer and light-attack aircraft, flown by the Frecce Tricolori display team.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × turbojet, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Single turbojet with rounded fuselage-side intakes |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Tip tanks on a straight low wing
- Raised rear seat giving a stepped tandem canopy
- Single turbojet with rounded fuselage-side intakes
Wingtip tanks, a straight low wing and a stepped tandem canopy identify it, very similar to the L-39 in layout. Italian display markings and a single turbojet help distinguish it.
Specifications
- The MB-339 has a length of 11.24 m (37 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 11.22 m (37 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 898 km/h (558 mph).
- Typical crew: 2 (instructor and student).
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Aermacchi flew the MB-339 in 1976 as a developed successor to the MB-326, with a raised rear seat and revised forward fuselage. A single Rolls-Royce Viper turbojet powers it for advanced and weapons training. It served the Italian Air Force for decades.
Variants
The MB-339A is the basic trainer; the MB-339C and naval MB-339 versions added improved avionics and attack capability for export and carrier-related roles.
Where you'll see it
The MB-339 is not an RAF type, but it is the mount of Italy's Frecce Tricolori, one of the world's largest jet display teams, a counterpart to the RAF Red Arrows and their Hawks. It also served several export air forces.
Related aircraft
- Aermacchi MB-339A
- Aermacchi MB-339K Veltro II
- MB-339PAN
- Aermacchi AM.3C
- HAL Ajeet
- Hawker Siddeley Harrier GR.3
- MiG-23ML
- Sukhoi Su-17M3
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