Macchi M.B.320

Macchi MB.320
M.B.320 before delivery to East African Airways
General information
Type	Cabin monoplane
National origin	Italy
Manufacturer	Macchi
Primary user	East African Airways
Number built	8
History
First flight	20 May 1949

The Macchi MB.320 was an Italian cabin monoplane designed and built by Macchi. Only a small number were built.

Design and development

The MB.320 was built using experience gained from the company's previous aircraft, the MB.308. The MB.320 was a low-wing cabin monoplane with retractable tricycle landing gear and powered by two wing-mounted 184 hp (137 kW) Continental E185 engines. ^[1] It had room for a pilot and five passengers.

Operational history

The prototype MB.320, registered I-RAIA, was first flown on 20 May 1949. The aircraft flew well, but was expensive to buy with only a small domestic market for the type and only a small number were exported. Three aircraft were sold to East African Airways for use as feederliners.

Variants

MB.320

Six-seat monoplane powered by two 184 hp (137 kW) Continental E185 engines. Eight built ^[1]

VEMA-51

Proposed license-built variant to have been produced in France by SFCA. Not built. ^[1]

Specifications (Macchi MB.320)

Data fromJane's All The World's Aircraft 1953-54 ^[2]

General characteristics

• Crew: 2
• Capacity: 4 passengers
• Length: 8.65 m (28 ft 5 in)
• Wingspan: 13.0 m (42 ft 8 in)
• Height: 3.19 m (10 ft 6 in)
• Wing area: 21.0 m² (226 sq ft)
• Empty weight: 1,490 kg (3,285 lb)
• Gross weight: 2,250 kg (4,960 lb)
• Fuel capacity: 400 L (110 US gal; 88 imp gal)
• Powerplant: 2 × Continental E185 air-cooled flat-six engines, 138 kW (185 hp) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 322 km/h (200 mph, 174 kn)
• Cruise speed: 285 km/h (177 mph, 154 kn) at 2,000 m (6,600 ft) (70% power)
• Range: 1,000 km (620 mi, 540 nmi)
• Service ceiling: 5,200 m (17,100 ft)
• Time to altitude:
  
  • 3 min 8 s to 1,000 m (3,300 ft)
  • 12 min 24 s to 3,000 m (9,800 ft)

References

Citations

1. Simpson, R. W. (1991). Airlife's General Aviation (2nd ed.). Airlife Publishing. pp. 15–16. ISBN   1853105775.
2. Bridgman 1953, pp. 162–163.

Bibliography

• Bridgman, Leonard, ed. (1953). Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1953-54. London: Jan's.
• Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions.
• The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985). Orbis Publishing.