In the 1960's the RAAF were looking for a replacement for their Vampires and Winjeels in an attempt to establish an all-jet form of pilot training. Having evaluated types including the BAC Jet Provost, Canadair Tutor, Fuji T-1 and SAAB 105 the Macchi MB-326 was selected in August 1965. The initial order was for 75 aircraft for the RAAF which was later increased to 87 and then a further 10 for the Royal Australian Navy.
Like many aircraft selected by the RAAF during this time, these were produced in conjunction with Australian Industry. In the case of the Macchi, the first 20 were assembled from predominantly Italian components with the remaining 77, having a much higher Australian content. The Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation(CAC) was the Primary contractor in the case of the Macchi, also being responsible for the local manufacture of the aircraft's power plant, the Rolls Royce Viper. The Macchi received the CAC designation, CA-30. The RAAF's first Macchi flew in Italy during April 1967 and was then shipped the Australia and handed over by CAC in October 1968 with the last aircraft delivered in September 1972.
The RAAF's philosophy of all jet pilot training only lasted for two courses before reverting back to a combination piston then jet training. From 1989 the Pilatus PC-9 replaced the venerable Macchi in the area of advanced pilot training. The remaining Macchi's were then transferred to the lead-in-fighter role, before being replaced in 2001 by the British Aerospace Hawk-127 LIF. The RAAF's Macchi's are best known by Australians as the mount of the RAAF's aerobatic team, the Roulettes between 1970 and 1989.
The Aermacchi MB-326H served with the following RAAF units:
25 Squadron, RAAF Pearce,
76 Squadron, RAAF Williamtown,
77 Squadron, RAAF Williamtown
79 Squadron, RAAF Pearce,
2 Operational Conversion Unit, RAAF Williamtown
5 Operational Conversion Unit, RAAF Williamtown
2 Flying Training School, RAAF Pearce
Central Flying School
TECHNICAL_DATA
(MB-326H)
DESCRIPTION
Two seat basic and advanced trainer
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN
Italy, built under licence in Australia by CAC
NUMBER OF AIRCRAFT DELIVERED
87 (RAN received an additional 10)
COMMENCED SERVICE
1968
POWER PLANT
1 x Rolls-Royce Viper Turbojet producing 2,500 lbs of thrust
DIMENSIONS
Wing Span: 10.57 m, Length: 10.67 m, Height: 3.71 m
WEIGHTS
Empty 2,236 kg, Loaded 4,300 kg
PERFORMANCE
Speed: 806 km/h max clean, Service Ceiling: 44,000 ft,
RANGE
1,512 kms
SERIAL NUMBERS
001-087
WEAPONS
Nil