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Fighter / Attack:
   Bell P-39 Airacobra
   Bell P-63 Kingcobra
   Brewster Buffalo
   Chance-Vought F-4U Corsair
   Curtiss P-40 Warhawk
   Curtiss SB2C Helldiver
   Douglas A-1 Skyraider
   Douglas A-26 Invader
   Douglas SBD Dauntless
   Fairey Firefly
   Focke-Wulf Fw 190
   Grumman F4F Wildcat
   Grumman F6F Hellcat
   Grumman F7F Tigercat
   Grumman F8F Bearcat
   Grumman TBF Avenger
   Hawker Hurricane
   Hawker Sea Fury
   Lockheed P-38 Lightning
   Messerschmitt Bf-109
   Mitsubishi A6M Zero-Sen
   North American P-51 Mustang

   Polikarpov I-16
   Republic P-47 Thunderbolt
   Supermarine Spitfire
   Yakovlev Yak-3
   Yakovlev Yak-9


Trainers:
  
Beechcraft AT-11 Kansan (C-45)
   Beechcraft T-34 Mentor
   Boeing / Stearman PT-17

   Commonwealth CA-25 Winjeel
   Commonwealth CA-1 Wirraway
   DeHavilland DHC-1 Chipmunk
   DeHavilland DH-82 Tiger Moth
   Fairchild PT-19 Cornell
   Hunting / Percival Provost
   Meyers OTW
   Nanchang CJ-6
   Naval Aircraft Factory N3N
   N. Am. BT-9 / BT-14 / Yale
   N. Am. T-6 Texan / SNJ / Harvard
   N. American T-28 Trojan

   Piaggio P149
   Ryan PT-22 Recruit

   Scottish Aviation T1 Bulldog
   Vultee BT-13 Valiant
   Yakovlev Yak-11
   Yakovlev Yak-18
   Yakovlev Yak-52


Bombers:
   Avro Lancaster
   Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
   Boeing B-29 Superfortress
   Bristol Blenheim / Bolingbroke
   Consolidated B-24 Liberator
   Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer

   Douglas A-3 Skywarrior
   DeHavilland Mosquito
   Fairey Swordfish
   Heinkel He-111 / Casa 2.111

   Lockheed PV-2 Harpoon / Ventura
   Martin B-26 Marauder
   North American B-25 Mitchell


Transports:
   Beechcraft C-45 (AT-11)

   Boeing C-97 Stratofreighter (KC-97)
   Curtiss C-46 Commando
   Douglas C-47 Skytrain / Dakota
   Douglas C-54 Skymaster

   Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar
   Fairchild C-123 Provider
   Grumman C-1 Trader (S-2)
   Lockheed C-60 Lodestar
   Lockheed C-69 Constellation


Utility / Observation / Special Duty:
   Aeronca L-3 Grasshopper
   Aeronca L-16 Grasshopper
   Antonov AN-2 Colt
   Auster AOP 6/9
   Avro 652 Anson
   Avro Shackleton
   British Taylorcraft I-V
   Cessna L-19 / O-1 Bird Dog
   Cessna O-2 Super Skymaster
   Cessna T-50 / UC-78 Bobcat
   Consolidated PBY Catalina

   DeHavilland U-6A / L-20 Beaver
   Fairey Gannet
   Fairey Swordfish
   Fieseler Fi156 Storch
   Grumman S-2 Tracker (C-1)
   Grumman HU-16 Albatross
   Grumman OV-1 Mohawk
   Junkers Ju 52/3m

   Lockheed P2V Neptune
   Max Holste M.H.1521 Broussard
   Messerschmitt Bf 108 Taifun

   Noorduyn UC-64 Norseman
   North American L-17 Navion
   N. Am./ Rockwell OV-10 Bronco
   Piper L-4 Grasshopper
   Stinson L-5 Sentinel
   Taylorcraft L-2 Grasshopper
   Westland Lysander


Jets:
   Aero L-29 Delfin
   Aero L-39 Albatros
   Aermacchi MB-326
   Avro Vulcan
   BAC Strikemaster
   Blackburn (BAC) Buccaneer
   Canadair Tutor
   Cessna A-37 Dragonfly
   DeHavilland Vampire
   DeHavilland Venom
   English Electric Canberra
   English Electric Lightning
   Folland Gnat
   Fouga CM-170 Magister
   Gloster Meteor
   Grumman F9F Panther
   Hawker Hunter
   Hispano HA-200 Saeta
   Hunting Jet Provost
   Lockheed F-104 Starfighter
   Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star
   McDonnell-Douglas A-4 Skyhawk
   McDonnell-Douglas F-4 Phantom
   Messerschmitt Me-262
   Mikoyan MiG-15
   Mikoyan MiG-17
   Mikoyan MiG-21
   N. Am. F-86 Sabre / FJ-4 Fury
   N. Am. F-100 Super Sabre
   N. Am. / Rockwell T-2 Buckeye
   Northrop T-38 Talon / F-5
   PZL / WSK TS-11 Iskra
   Saab J35 Draken
   Soko G-2A Galeb
   Temco Pinto & Super Pinto


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Aermacchi MB-326 Impala

(Variants/Other Names: See History below)


Aermacchi MB-326 Impala
An Aermacchi MB-326 Impala in the colors of the South African Air Force.
(Photo source unknown. Please contact us if you deserve credit.)

History: The MB-326 was designed by Dr. Ing Ermanno Bazzochi and became the most successful aircraft built by the Italian Aermacchi company. The first two prototypes of this tandem two-seat jet trainer were flown in December 1957. The Italian air force soon acquired 15 pre-production aircraft, and they were so pleased with its performance, they purchased another 85. These trainers were also supplied to countries in Africa and South America, their sales being fueled by a growing need to replace older, propeller driven trainers. To further expand its customer base, Aermacchi soon produced the armed, two seat MB-326B and -326F. A stable and extremely maneuverable aircraft, the MB-326 was well suited for the close-support role. These variants were usually flown with the second seat empty, and could also be used for weapons training.

On August 22, 1970, Aermacchi flew its new, single seat prototype ground attack fighter. Given the designation MB-326K, it had a powerful Rolls-Royce turbojet and a pair of electrically-operated cannons. Ammunition storage for the guns was located in the space left empty by the removal of the second seat. New electronics were added, and the airframe was strengthened to accommodate more armament on the hard points under the wings. In 1974, the MB-326K got its first new operators when the Dubai Police Air Wing ordered three for counter-insurgency work. A year later, in 1975, Atlas in South Africa began building the MB-326K under license as the Impala II. These saw action over Angola, and the next year both Ghana and Tunisia supplemented their armed two-seat MB-326s with the new -326K.

The final MB-326 was the EMB 326GB, completed by Embraer of Brazil in 1983. The Brazilian Air Force designated the aircraft the AT-26 Xavante ("Shavante").

The MB-326 has since been replaced by newer training aircraft, and some the surplus airframes have been sold to private operators, most ending up in the United States. The largest operator of the type in the U.S. has been the National Test Pilot School in Mojave, California.

Nicknames: Imp

Specifications (MB-326K):
        Engine: One 4,000-pound thrust Rolls-Royce Viper 632-43 turbojet
        Weight: Empty 6,885 lbs., Max Takeoff 13,000 lbs.
        Wing Span: 35ft. 7in. including tip tanks
        Length: 35ft. 0.25in.
        Height: 12ft. 2in.
        Performance:
            Maximum Speed at 5,000 feet, clean configuration: 553 mph
            Ceiling: 45,000 ft.
            Range: 1,323 miles with ferry tanks
        Armament:
            Two 30mm DEFA 553 cannon in lower fuselage
            Up to 4,000 pounds of underwing stores, including bombs, missiles, rockets, mini-gun pods and camera pods.

Number Built: 761

Number Still Airworthy: At least 10 in private ownership.

Links:
CNAPG MB-326 Page
MB-326 Three-View Drawing  |  Another Three-View
National Test Pilot School, Mojave, CA: Main Page
RAAF Museum MB-326 Page

 


MB 326 Impala
1:48 Plastic Model:


 


 


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All text and photos Copyright 2016 The Doublestar Group, unless otherwise noted.
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