Macchi M.B.308

MB.308
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Aermacchi MB-308 in flight at the Historical Aircraft Group FlyParty 2014
Role	Utility aircraft
National origin	Italy
Manufacturer	Macchi, German Bianco
Designer	Ermanno Bazzocchi
First flight	19 January 1947
Primary users	Aero clubs Private pilot owners
Number built	183

The Macchi MB.308, later Aermacchi MB-308, was a light aircraft produced in Italy in the late 1940s, one of the most prolific Italian-built types of the following decade. It was a conventional high-wing cantilever monoplane with fixed tricycle undercarriage. Construction throughout was of wood. The pilot and a single passenger or instructor sat side by side, and later examples had a third seat behind them.

The MB.308 was ordered in quantity by the Aeronautica Militare, which leased them out to Italy's aeroclubs. A modified version with a higher-powered engine was put into production in Argentina, under licence to sailplane manufacturer German Bianco.

Operators

Argentina

• Argentine National Gendarmerie

Egypt

• Egyptian Air Force

Italy

• Aeronautica Militare Italiana - received 81 aircraft in 1948 and were retired in 1954

Lebanon

• Lebanese Air Force

Variants

• MB.308 - main production version with Continental C85 engine
  • MB.308 Idro - seaplane version
• MB.308G - three-seat version with Continental C90 engine
  • MB.308G-100 - MB.308G built in Argentina with Continental O-200 engine and fuel tanks relocated from fuselage to wings

Specifications (MB.308 (C85 engine))

Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1955–56

General characteristics

• Crew: 2
• Length: 6.53 m (21 ft 5 in)
• Wingspan: 10.00 m (32 ft 10 in)
• Height: 2.18 m (7 ft 2 in)
• Wing area: 13.72 m² (147.7 sq ft)
• Empty weight: 410 kg (904 lb)
• Gross weight: 650 kg (1,433 lb)
• Fuel capacity: 80 litres (21 US gal; 18 imp gal)
• Powerplant: 1 × Continental C85 air-cooled flat-four, 63 kW (85 hp)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 197 km/h (122 mph; 106 kn)
• Cruising speed: 164 km/h (102 mph; 89 kn) (70% power)
• Range: 760 km (472 mi; 410 nmi)
• Service ceiling: 4,500 m (14,764 ft)
• Time to altitude: 6 minutes to 1,000 m (3,300 ft)