The Aermacchi MB-326 is an early 60’s jet trainer, designed and built in Italy, and subsequently licence built in Australia, Brazil and South Africa. Several versions of the 326 were built, including a single-seat ground attack aircraft.

The Macchi was also used by several aerobatic teams, notably in Australia as the Telstars and Roulettes.

We’re designing two versions of this aircraft, one as a smaller EDF and the other as a 2-Metre turbine-powered model. Email us for information.

Aermacchi MB-326H – Design, Development, Production and Performance

The Aermacchi MB-326H was the Australian version of the Italian-designed Aermacchi MB-326 advanced jet trainer. Built under licence by the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation (CAC) as the CA-30, it became one of the Royal Australian Air Force’s most successful training aircraft, serving from 1967 until 2001. It also equipped the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) and was the aircraft flown by the famous RAAF Roulettes aerobatic team from 1970 to 1989.

The MB-326H was designed as an “all-through” jet trainer, capable of taking pilots from their first jet flight through advanced and lead-in fighter training. It combined excellent handling, low operating costs, simple maintenance and light attack capability in a compact, reliable aircraft. Australia acquired 97 aircraft, making it one of the largest operators of the type.

Origins

During the early 1960s the RAAF sought a replacement for two ageing trainers:

CAC Winjeel (basic training)
de Havilland Vampire T.33 (advanced jet training)

Rather than continue operating both piston and jet trainers, the RAAF adopted the then-fashionable concept of all-through jet training, whereby pilots would complete nearly all flying training in a single aircraft type. In August 1965, the MB-326 was selected over several competing designs because of its low operating costs, excellent handling, modern systems and growth potential.

Italian Development

The MB-326 was designed by Ermanno Bazzocchi of Aermacchi during the mid-1950s.

The prototype first flew on:

10 December 1957

The aircraft rapidly gained international success because it offered:

jet performance at turboprop operating costs
excellent reliability
forgiving handling
simple maintenance
fighter-like cockpit

More than 800 MB-326s of all variants were eventually produced worldwide, with licensed production in Australia, Brazil and South Africa.

Australian MB-326H Development

The Australian version incorporated numerous modifications specifically for local conditions.

Among the most significant were:

enhanced internal corrosion protection
rain-erosion coating on wing leading edges
improved cockpit air conditioning
modified cockpit lighting
improved oxygen system
sealed radio compartments against water ingress
redesigned fuel and oil drain routing to reduce fire risk
nosewheel shroud to reduce engine flame-outs on wet runways

These refinements produced one of the most capable and durable variants of the MB-326 family.

Design Philosophy

The MB-326H was designed to provide:

economical jet training
fighter-like handling
forgiving low-speed characteristics
excellent visibility
simple maintenance
secondary light attack capability

Unlike many jet trainers of its era, it was fully aerobatic and stressed for repeated training manoeuvres.

Airframe Design

Wing

The aircraft employs a cantilever low-mounted wing.

Characteristics include:

all-metal stressed-skin construction
slight leading-edge sweep
large hydraulically operated flaps
wingtip fuel tanks
speed brake beneath the fuselage

The relatively thick wing section provided:

excellent low-speed handling
benign stall characteristics
high roll rate
good climb performance

The wingtip tanks increased fuel capacity while reducing wing bending loads.

Fuselage

The fuselage uses conventional aluminium semi-monocoque construction.

Features include:

tandem seating
pressurised cockpit
ejection seats
large equipment bays
removable engine installation

The streamlined fuselage contributed to the aircraft’s impressive performance while remaining straightforward to manufacture and maintain.

Cockpit

The cockpit was advanced for the early 1960s.

Features included:

tandem instructor/student seating
Martin-Baker lightweight ejection seats
full dual controls
pressurised cockpit
excellent all-round visibility
comprehensive flight instrumentation

The cockpit layout closely resembled that of contemporary fighter aircraft, easing transition to frontline types.

Landing Gear

The MB-326H features a hydraulically operated retractable tricycle undercarriage.

Characteristics include:

single-wheel main units
steerable nosewheel
hydraulic disc brakes
wide-track geometry

The undercarriage was designed for frequent training operations and excellent ground handling.

Powerplant

The MB-326H is powered by one:

Rolls-Royce (Bristol Siddeley) Viper Mk 11 Mk.22

Specifications:

single-spool axial-flow turbojet
thrust: 11.12 kN (2,500 lbf)

Although the Viper had originally been developed as an expendable engine for target drones such as the Australian Jindivik, it was extensively redesigned into a durable, highly reliable powerplant. More than 5,500 Viper engines were ultimately produced for numerous aircraft types.

Aerodynamics

The MB-326 incorporated several advanced aerodynamic features:

streamlined fuselage
clean low-wing configuration
tip-mounted fuel tanks
T-tail
fuselage-mounted speed brake
carefully faired engine intakes

These features produced:

low drag
excellent manoeuvrability
stable handling
predictable stalls
rapid acceleration

Structural Design

Construction consists primarily of:

aluminium alloy semi-monocoque fuselage
machined wing spars
fail-safe structural philosophy
removable access panels
corrosion-resistant finishes

The aircraft proved extremely robust, although by the late 1990s widespread fatigue cracking eventually limited further service life.

Licensed Australian Production

The Australian manufacturing programme was one of the largest licence-production efforts undertaken by the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation.

Production involved:

Aermacchi (Italy)
Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation (CAC) (prime contractor)
Hawker de Havilland (HDH)
numerous Australian subcontractors

Production progressed through several stages:

first 12 aircraft imported complete from Italy
next 18 assembled in Australia from imported kits
remaining 67 manufactured largely in Australia as the CAC CA-30

Local content steadily increased:

approximately 85% Australian content by the 31st airframe
approximately 90% Australian content in Viper engine manufacture by the 81st engine

Aircraft assembly took place at Fishermans Bend, Victoria, while flight testing was conducted at Avalon.

Production

Manufacturer

Aermacchi (Italy)
Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation (Australia)

Australian designation:

CA-30

Production period:

Italian production: 1961 onwards
Australian production: 1967–1972

Australian procurement:

87 aircraft for the RAAF
10 aircraft for the RAN

Total Australian aircraft:

Operational Service

The MB-326H served with:

Central Flying School
No. 2 Flying Training School
No. 25 Squadron
No. 76 Squadron
No. 77 Squadron
No. 79 Squadron
No. 2 Operational Conversion Unit
No. 724 Squadron (RAN)

It was also the aircraft of the RAAF Roulettes from 1970 to 1989, becoming closely associated with Australian military aerobatic displays.

Armament

Although primarily a trainer, the MB-326H possessed a secondary ground-attack capability.

Typical stores included:

two 7.62 mm Miniguns or optional 12.7 mm gun pods
practice bombs
rocket pods
external fuel tanks
light bombs

Maximum external stores approached 900 kg (2,000 lb) depending on configuration.

Specifications (MB-326H)

Item	Specification
Crew	2
Length	10.67 m (35 ft 0 in)
Wingspan	10.57 m (34 ft 8 in)
Height	3.71 m (12 ft 2 in)
Empty Weight	2,236 kg (4,930 lb)
Maximum Take-off Weight	4,300 kg (9,480 lb)
Engine	Rolls-Royce Viper 11 Mk.22 turbojet
Thrust	11.12 kN (2,500 lbf)
Fuel	Internal plus wingtip tanks

Performance

Performance	Value
Maximum Speed	806 km/h (501 mph; 435 kt)
Cruise Speed	Approximately 650 km/h (350 kt)
Initial Rate of Climb	1,370 m/min (4,500 ft/min)
Service Ceiling	13,411 m (44,000 ft)
Maximum Range	1,512 km (940 mi) with large tip tanks
Take-off Run	Approximately 700 m (typical training weight)
Landing Speed	Approximately 175 km/h (95 kt)

Flying Characteristics

The MB-326H earned an outstanding reputation among Australian military pilots for its:

exceptionally balanced controls
forgiving stall behaviour
rapid roll response
excellent visibility
predictable aerobatic handling
high reliability

Many instructors described it as a “delight to fly”, while its combination of stability and responsiveness made it ideal for formation flying, instrument training and lead-in fighter instruction. It was equally at home performing aerobatics with the Roulettes or preparing students for high-performance combat aircraft.

Retirement and Legacy

By the 1990s, advances in training philosophy and increasing airframe fatigue led to the MB-326H’s gradual replacement. The Pilatus PC-9/A assumed much of the basic and advanced training role, while the BAE Hawk 127 Lead-In Fighter took over lead-in fighter training. The final Australian MB-326H was retired in 2001 after 34 years of service.

The MB-326H remains one of Australia’s most significant military training aircraft. Its successful licence production strengthened the Australian aerospace industry, while its combination of Italian aerodynamic design and Australian engineering refinements produced an aircraft that trained several generations of RAAF and RAN pilots. Its long service life, exceptional reliability and graceful handling have ensured its place as one of the finest jet trainers of the Cold War era.

Macchi 326H EDF