The Macchi MB.308, later Aermacchi MB-308, is 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
 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
Two-seat version with an 85 hp (63 kW) or 90 hp (67 kW) Continental engine. 137 built.[2]
MB.308 Idro
Seaplane version[citation needed]
MB.308G
Three-seat version with a 90 hp (67 kW) Continental C90 engine.[2]
MB.308-100
MB.308G built by German Bianco in Argentina with a 100 hp (75 kW) Continental O-200-A engine. Approximately 46 built.[2]

Specifications (MB.308 - C85 engine)

Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1955–56[3]

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

  1. ^ "Macchi MB-308". Aeronautica Militare. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
  2. ^ a b c Simpson, R. W. (1991). Airlife's General Aviation (2nd ed.). Airlife Publishing. pp. 15–16. ISBN 1853105775.
  3. ^ Bridgman 1955, p. 172.

Bibliography

  • Bridgman, Leonard (1955). Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1955–56. New York: McGraw-Hill Book Company.
  • "The Macchi MB 308". Flight: 64. 17 July 1947. Retrieved 2008-04-03.
  • Simpson, R. W. (1995). Airlife's General Aviation. Shrewsbury: Airlife Publishing. ISBN 1-85310-577-5.
  • Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions. p. 419. ISBN 0-7106-0710-5.
  • World Aircraft Information Files. London: Bright Star Publishing. pp. File 901 Sheet 03. ISBN 1-156-94382-5.
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