Engineering:Macchi M.B.308

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MB.308 / MB-308
Aermacchi MB-308 in flight.jpg
Aermacchi MB-308 in flight at the Historical Aircraft Group FlyParty 2014
Role Utility aircraft
National origin Italy
Manufacturer Macchi
Built by German Bianco
First flight 19 January 1947
Primary users Italian Air Force
Number built 183[citation needed]

The Macchi MB.308, later Aermacchi MB-308, was a light aircraft produced in Italy in the late 1940s.

Development

It was a conventional high-wing cantilever monoplane with fixed tricycle undercarriage. Construction throughout was of wood. The pilot and a single passenger or instructor sat side by side, and later examples had a third seat behind them.

The MB.308 was ordered in quantity by the Italian Air Force , which leased them out to Italy's aeroclubs. A modified version with a higher-powered engine was put into production in Argentina, under licence to sailplane manufacturer German Bianco.

Operators

An Italian MB308
 Argentina
  • Argentine National Gendarmerie
 Egypt
 Italy
  • Italian Air Force (Aeronautica Militare Italiana) - received 81 aircraft in 1948 and were retired in 1954[1]
 Lebanon

Variants

MB.308 Idro, Italy, 1965
  • MB.308 - main production version with Continental C85 engine
  • MB.308G - three-seat version with Continental C90 engine
    • MB.308G-100 - MB.308G built in Argentina with Continental O-200 engine and fuel tanks relocated from fuselage to wings

Specifications (MB.308 - C85 engine)

Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1955–56[2]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 2
  • Length: 6.53 m (21 ft 5 in)
  • Wingspan: 10.00 m (32 ft 10 in)
  • Height: 2.18 m (7 ft 2 in)
  • Wing area: 13.72 m2 (147.7 sq ft)
  • Empty weight: 410 kg (904 lb)
  • Gross weight: 650 kg (1,433 lb)
  • Fuel capacity: 80 litres (21 US gal; 18 imp gal)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Continental C85 air-cooled flat-four, 63 kW (85 hp)

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 197 km/h (122 mph, 106 kn)
  • Cruise speed: 164 km/h (102 mph, 89 kn) (70% power)
  • Range: 760 km (470 mi, 410 nmi)
  • Service ceiling: 4,500 m (14,800 ft)
  • Time to altitude: 6 minutes to 1,000 m (3,300 ft)

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

References

Notes

Bibliography