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Aviation History
1956
1956 - 1369.PDF
FLIGHT, 21 September 1956 521 Viper-powered Italian Trainer TAKING shape in the Aeronautica Macchi works is a proto-type of the MB.326 basic jet trainer for the Italian AirMinistry. A tandem two-seater powered with an Armstrong Siddeley Viper ASV.8 turbojet of 1,750 Ib static thrust, it hasan air-conditioning system and is fitted with Martin-Baker Mk 4 ejection seats. The NACA.6A laminar-flow wing section has been chosen forthe trapezoidal wing, which is of single-spar type with very closely spaced ribs, but with no spanwise stiffeners. The aileronsare of the Irving sealed-balance pattern and the flaps of Fowler type. The fuselage consists substantially of sheet-formed bulk-heads and four main longerons, and is provided with a large opening to allow removal of the engine. Hinged along one side,the canopy is a single-piece structure and can be jettisoned in any emergency, being synchronized to that end with seat ejection.On the lower side of the fuselage is an air brake which opens in about one second. Fuel is contained in a flexible cell of 190 Imp. gallons capacity,internally divided into two chambers and located behind the cockpit and above the engine intake ducts. The Viper will runfor twelve seconds while the aircraft is inverted. Two auxiliary jettisonable tanks, each of 35 gallons capacity, can be fitted to thewing-tips, and from these fuel is transferred to the main tanks by compressed air tapped from the engine. The hydraulic systemoperates the undercarriage, flaps, air brakes and wheel brakes, and cocks the machine guns. The front—pupil's—cockpit is, of course, the most complete inrespect of instruments and controls. Provision is made for amber screens. The radio consists of one V.H.F. transmitter Type 2 ARC(SARAM 5-52) and one Lear ADF 14 automatic radio compass. In the armed version—designated MB.326A—provision is madefor two SAFAT 0.303 calibre machine guns with 200 rounds of ammunition each; four 13 lb practice rockets, or four 62 lb rockets;four 33 lb practice bombs, or four 100 lb bombs. A G.45 gun camera is fitted in the nose. A number of British accessories,including a Graviner fire-extinguisher bottle, are specified. MACCHI MB. 3U (Armstrong Siddeley Viper ASV.8 turbojet of 1,750 Ib thrust) Dimensions Span 32.8ft Length 33.79ft Wing area 204.5 sq ft Aspect ratio 5.26 Undercarriage track 7.77ft Weights Empty weight 3,8041b Gross weight (with armament) 5,953 Ib Performance Max. speed at sea level 404 m.p.h. Max. speed at 19,700ft 438 m.p.h. Max. speed at 29,500ft 449 m.p.h. Min. speed without flaps ... 94 m.p.h. Min. speed with flaps 82 m.p.h. Initial rate of climb 3,O5Oft/min Time to 19,700ft min 50 sec Time to 29,500ft 16 min 30 sec Normal range at 9,800ft 483 miles 19,700ft 604 miles 29,500ft 715 miles Range with drop tanks at 29,500ft 1,059 miles Unstick run 1,50ft Distance to 50ft 2,165ft Min. ground run 590ft Note: All performances relate to the MB.326A (armed) version. Without arma- ment the weight is 220 Ib less and performances will be correspondingly improved. LITTLE FIGHTER MAKES BIG NEWS: THE FOLLAND GNAT Recorded in this issue is the Indian Government order for 25 Folland Gnat light fighters (Bristol Orpheus turbojet) and the acquisition of a constructional licence. Glimpsed in an ethereal setting is the first Gnat of a batch of six ordered by the Ministry of Supply.
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