The MB-339 was the last aircraft designed by Ermanno Bazzocchi (1914-2005) to enter series production. It is also known as the mount of the Italian Air Force’s “Frecce Tricolori” aerobatic team.
The MB-339 was developed as a low cost, low risk successor to the MB-326. Outwardly distinguished by the new cockpit with stepped seats, it also sported a larger fin, power-assisted controls, and stiffer wing. The first MB-339 was flown on 12 August 1976 from Venegono by Franco Bonazzi. By 2010 a total of 237 have been built in various versions, with 139 going to the Italian Air Force and 96 to eight export customers. It entered service with the Italian Air Force Basic Jet School (now the 61st Wing) at Lecce in 1981 and with the Frecce Tricolori in 1982. Argentine MB-339-A fought gallantly in the Falklands war. In the early 1980s the growing importance of avionics on new generation military aircraft led Aermacchi to develop the privately funded C model with digital avionics. Easily recognized by the longer, pointed nose, the MB-339C have been bought by New Zealand, Italy and Malaysia, the latter two also operating the A model. In September 2009 a Malaysian MB-339-CM became the 7,000th aircraft built by Aermacchi. The MB-339 on display is the 163rd built and was the prototype for the C model. It was built in 1985 with construction number 6775 and made its first flight on 17 December 1985 with Riccardo Durione. Its civil registration I-AMDA stands for AerMacchi Digital Avionics. Displayed at the main air shows, in 1988 it also flew a demonstration tour in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines and Australia. It made its last flight on 20 March 1997 with Olinto Cecconello. After being stored at Venegono, it was loaned to the Museum in 2010 by Alenia Aermacchi.
Thanks to: Alenia Aermacchi.