Book Review of
MB-339A PAN CD MLU
Book is Authored by a group of 6 writers
Italian Aviation Series
Aviation Collectable Company
Aviation Collectable Company
ISBN: 9788890523168
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 2021
MSRP: $24.95
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 2021
MSRP: $24.95
HISTORY:
The Aermacchi MB-339 is a military jet trainer and light attack aircraft designed and manufactured by Italian aviation company Aermacchi.
The MB-339 was developed during the 1970s in response to an Italian Air Force requirement that sought a replacement for the service's existing fleet of Aermacchi MB-326. Its design was derived from that of the MB-326, rather than a new design, and thus the two aircraft share considerable similarities in terms of their design.
Aermacchi had found that the MB-339 was capable of satisfying all of the specified requirements while being the most affordable option available. The maiden flight of the MB-339 took place on 12 August 1976; the first production aircraft were delivered two years later.Roughly half of all MB-339s entered service with the Italian Air Force, while the remainder have been sold to various export customers. As well as being used for training, the type is also flown by the Frecce Tricolori aerobatic display team.
The type has been used in combat by both the Eritrean Air Force during the Eritrean–Ethiopian War of 1998-2000 and the Argentine Naval Aviation during the Falklands War of 1982. In both conflicts, the MB-339 was typically flown as an attack aircraft. In Italian service, the aircraft is intended to be replaced by the newer Aermacchi M-345.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Role: Advanced trainer and light attack aircraft
Manufacturer: Alenia Aermacchi
First flight: 12 August 1976
Introduction to service: 1979
Status: Active in production
Primary users: Italian Air Force, Royal Malaysian Air Force, Eritrean Air Force, United Arab Emirates Air Force
Produced: 1978–present
Number built: 230
Developed from: Aermacchi MB-326
THE BOOK:
Aviation Collectables Co. is based in Italy.
The book is soft-cover of 65 pages in 8 ¼” x 11 ¾” page format. It is in Italian and English text.
It is authored by a team of 6 writers.
The cover art show a color photo of 8 aircraft with the Italian Air Force National Aerobatic Team, in close formation and climbing, leaving smoke trails. They are with red and white splinter pattern camouflages.
The back cover has a color illustration of a MB-339A posed against a large Italian Air Force roundel. It is overall light grey, with a medium-grey serial no. 61-141 on the sides of its nose and a wide yellow band around its wing tip fuel tanks.
Including the covers, the book contains 117 color photos of the MB-339, two photos of its dashboard and 14 photos that are the walk-around type.
The book contains a Modeler’s Section. It shows the Italeri 1/72nd scale kits' box art and decal sheet and 3 color photos of the model made up. No modeler’s name is credited for the build.
There are 2 color illustrations of squadron badges.
In the color side profiles section of the book there are:
4 side-views of the MB-339A
2 side-views of the MB-339CD
1 side-view of the MB-229 PAN
These are in rather spectacular paint schemes.
This book will be of great interest to modelers who plan to build a MB-339A kit and to aircraft historians alike.
This series of books by Aviation Collectables Co. are really aimed at us modelers.
I sincerely wish to thank Casemate Publishers, the North American distributor of Aviation Collectables Co. for this review sample. All Aviation Collectibles' books can be viewed on Casemate’s website at:
The Aermacchi MB-339 is a military jet trainer and light attack aircraft designed and manufactured by Italian aviation company Aermacchi.
The MB-339 was developed during the 1970s in response to an Italian Air Force requirement that sought a replacement for the service's existing fleet of Aermacchi MB-326. Its design was derived from that of the MB-326, rather than a new design, and thus the two aircraft share considerable similarities in terms of their design.
Aermacchi had found that the MB-339 was capable of satisfying all of the specified requirements while being the most affordable option available. The maiden flight of the MB-339 took place on 12 August 1976; the first production aircraft were delivered two years later.Roughly half of all MB-339s entered service with the Italian Air Force, while the remainder have been sold to various export customers. As well as being used for training, the type is also flown by the Frecce Tricolori aerobatic display team.
The type has been used in combat by both the Eritrean Air Force during the Eritrean–Ethiopian War of 1998-2000 and the Argentine Naval Aviation during the Falklands War of 1982. In both conflicts, the MB-339 was typically flown as an attack aircraft. In Italian service, the aircraft is intended to be replaced by the newer Aermacchi M-345.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Role: Advanced trainer and light attack aircraft
Manufacturer: Alenia Aermacchi
First flight: 12 August 1976
Introduction to service: 1979
Status: Active in production
Primary users: Italian Air Force, Royal Malaysian Air Force, Eritrean Air Force, United Arab Emirates Air Force
Produced: 1978–present
Number built: 230
Developed from: Aermacchi MB-326
THE BOOK:
Aviation Collectables Co. is based in Italy.
The book is soft-cover of 65 pages in 8 ¼” x 11 ¾” page format. It is in Italian and English text.
It is authored by a team of 6 writers.
The cover art show a color photo of 8 aircraft with the Italian Air Force National Aerobatic Team, in close formation and climbing, leaving smoke trails. They are with red and white splinter pattern camouflages.
The back cover has a color illustration of a MB-339A posed against a large Italian Air Force roundel. It is overall light grey, with a medium-grey serial no. 61-141 on the sides of its nose and a wide yellow band around its wing tip fuel tanks.
Including the covers, the book contains 117 color photos of the MB-339, two photos of its dashboard and 14 photos that are the walk-around type.
The book contains a Modeler’s Section. It shows the Italeri 1/72nd scale kits' box art and decal sheet and 3 color photos of the model made up. No modeler’s name is credited for the build.
There are 2 color illustrations of squadron badges.
In the color side profiles section of the book there are:
4 side-views of the MB-339A
2 side-views of the MB-339CD
1 side-view of the MB-229 PAN
These are in rather spectacular paint schemes.
This book will be of great interest to modelers who plan to build a MB-339A kit and to aircraft historians alike.
This series of books by Aviation Collectables Co. are really aimed at us modelers.
I sincerely wish to thank Casemate Publishers, the North American distributor of Aviation Collectables Co. for this review sample. All Aviation Collectibles' books can be viewed on Casemate’s website at:
Highly recommended.