Aermacchi was an Italian
aircraft manufacturer
An aerospace manufacturer is a company or individual involved in the various aspects of designing, building, testing, selling, and maintaining aircraft, aircraft parts, missiles, rockets, or spacecraft. Aerospace is a high technology indust ...
. Formerly known as Aeronautica Macchi, the company was founded in 1912 by
Giulio Macchi at
Varese in north-western
Lombardy as Nieuport-Macchi, to build Nieuport monoplanes under licence for the Italian military. With a factory located on the shores of
Lake Varese, the firm originally manufactured a series of
Nieuport
Nieuport, later Nieuport-Delage, was a French aeroplane company that primarily built racing aircraft before World War I and fighter aircraft during World War I and between the wars.
History
Beginnings
Originally formed as Nieuport-Duplex in ...
designs, as well as
seaplanes.
After
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...
, the company began producing
motorcycles as a way to fill the post-war need for cheap, efficient transportation.
The company later specialised in civil and military pilot training aircraft. In July 2003, Aermacchi was integrated into the
Finmeccanica
Leonardo S.p.A., formerly Leonardo-Finmeccanica and originally Finmeccanica, is an Italian multinational company specialising in aerospace, defence and security. Headquartered in Rome, Italy, the company has 180 sites worldwide. It is the eighth ...
Group (now Leonardo) as
Alenia Aermacchi
Alenia Aermacchi was a company active in the aeronautics sector, with offices and plants in Venegono Superiore, Varese, Turin Airport in San Maurizio Canavese, Province of Turin and Pomigliano d'Arco, Province of Naples. From 1 January 2016, ...
, which increased its shareholding to 99%.
Military trainers
![EMB339](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3d/EMB339.JPG)
Since the beginning, the design and production of military trainers have been the core business of Alenia Aermacchi.
The products include:
*
SF-260, piston-engined or turboprop-powered screener/primary trainer
*
MB-326, turbofan engined trainer and light attack aircraft
*
M-311, basic turbofan trainer
*
MB-339
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 rep ...
CD, advanced and lead-in fighter trainer
*
M-346
The Aermacchi M-346 Master is a family of military twin-engine transonic advanced jet trainers and light combat aircraft. Originally co-developed with Yakovlev as the Yak/AEM-130, the partnership was dissolved in 2000 and then Alenia Aermacchi ...
, advanced and lead-in fighter trainer of the new generation
Military collaboration
Alenia Aermacchi has cooperated in international military programs:
*
AMX Program:
Alenia Aermacchi takes part in the AMX program with Alenia Aeronautica and
Embraer of Brazil with a total share of 24%. Alenia Aermacchi develops and manufactures the fuselage forward and rear sections and installs some avionic equipment in the aircraft. A Mid-Life Updating program is required by the Italian Air Force to upgrade the aircraft capabilities.
*
Panavia Tornado
The Panavia Tornado is a family of twin-engine, variable-sweep wing multirole combat aircraft, jointly developed and manufactured by Italy, the United Kingdom and West Germany. There are three primary Tornado variants: the Tornado IDS ( in ...
program:
Alenia Aermacchi designs and produces wing pylons and wing tips, roots,
trailing edge
The trailing edge of an aerodynamic surface such as a wing is its rear edge, where the airflow separated by the leading edge meets.Crane, Dale: ''Dictionary of Aeronautical Terms, third edition'', page 521. Aviation Supplies & Academics, 199 ...
s and flaps, which represents a 5% share in the overall program.
*
Eurofighter program:
Alenia Aermacchi has a share of more than 4% in the Eurofighter program, for the design and development of wing pylons, twin missile and twin store carriers, ECM pods, carbon fiber structures and titanium engine cowlings.
*
C-27J
The Alenia C-27J Spartan is a military transport aircraft developed and manufactured by Leonardo's Aircraft Division (formerly Alenia Aermacchi until 2016). It is an advanced derivative of Alenia Aeronautica's earlier G.222 (C-27A Spartan in ...
program:
After participating in the
G-222
The Aeritalia G.222 (formerly Fiat Aviazione, later Alenia Aeronautica) is a medium-sized STOL military transport aircraft. It was developed to meet a NATO specification, but Italy was initially the only NATO member to adopt the type. The Unite ...
transport aircraft program, the company is involved in the new Military Transport Aircraft C-27J Spartan, for the production of outer wings.
Civil programs
Since the mid-1990s, Alenia Aermacchi has participated in programs for the supply of engine nacelles for civil aircraft. It produces cold parts for engine nacelles: inlets, fan cowls and EBU, the systems-to-engine interface.
In 1999, the company established a joint venture (MHD) with
Hurel-Dubois (presently
Hurel-Hispano, of
SNECMA
Safran Aircraft Engines, previously Snecma (''Société nationale d'études et de construction de moteurs d'aviation'') or Snecma Moteurs, is a French aerospace engine manufacturer headquartered in Courcouronnes and a subsidiary of Safran. It ...
group), a French company specializing in the development and manufacture of thrust reversers, to obtain the full responsibility for the development of nacelles installed on maximum 100-seat aircraft.
Aermacchi aircraft
World War I
*
Macchi L.1 – reconnaissance
flying boat (
Lohner copy)
*
Macchi L.2
The Macchi L.2 was an Italian biplane flying boat developed from the earlier Macchi L.1, itself a copy of a captured Austrian Lohner flying boat.
Development
In an attempt to improve the performance of the L.1 flying-boat Macchi, the design was ...
– flying boat
biplane (Lohner copy)
*
Nieuport-Macchi N.VI
The Nieuport VI was a sport monoplane produced in France in the 1910s, a further development by Nieuport along the same general lines as the Nieuport II and Nieuport IV, differing mainly from the Nieuport IV in being slightly larger.Taylor 1989, ...
– reconnaissance monoplane (license-built
Nieuport
Nieuport, later Nieuport-Delage, was a French aeroplane company that primarily built racing aircraft before World War I and fighter aircraft during World War I and between the wars.
History
Beginnings
Originally formed as Nieuport-Duplex in ...
monoplane with local modifications)
*
Nieuport-Macchi Parasol –
parasol-wing observation monoplane (developed from
Nieuport IV) (1913)
*
Nieuport-Macchi N.10
The Nieuport 10 (or Nieuport XB in contemporary sources) was a French First World War Biplane#Sesquiplane, sesquiplane that filled a wide variety of roles, including reconnaissance, fighter and trainer.
Design and development
In January 1914, d ...
– fighter/reconnaissance
sesquiplane (license-built
Nieuport 10 with local modifications)
*
Nieuport-Macchi N.11
The Nieuport 11 (or Nieuport XI C.1 in contemporary sources), nicknamed the ''Bébé'', was a French World War I single seat sesquiplane fighter aircraft, designed by Gustave Delage. It was the primary aircraft that ended the Fokker Scourge in ...
– fighter sesquiplane (license-built
Nieuport 11 with local modifications)
*
Nieuport-Macchi N.17
The Nieuport 17 C.1 (or Nieuport XVII C.1 in contemporary sources) was a French sesquiplane fighter designed and manufactured by the Nieuport company during World War I. An improvement over the Nieuport 11, it was a little larger than earlier Ni ...
– fighter sesquiplane (license-built
Nieuport 17 with local modifications)
*
Macchi M.3
The Macchi L.3, or later Macchi M.3, was an Italian biplane flying boat developed from the earlier L.2.
Development
The Macchi company had learned about flying boat design from copying an Austrian flying boat to produce the Macchi L.1 and imp ...
– flying boat biplane (1916)
*
Macchi M.5 – flying boat fighter (1917)
*
Macchi M.6
The Macchi M.6 was an Italian flying boat fighter prototype of 1917.
Design and development
In 1917, Nieuport-Macchi built the M.6. for comparison with its Macchi M.5 flying boat fighter, which went into service that year and operated successfu ...
– flying boat fighter prototype (1917)
*
Macchi M.7 – flying boat fighter (1918)
*
Macchi M.8 – reconnaissance/bomber flying boat (1917)
*
Macchi M.9 – flying boat bomber (1918)
*
Macchi M.12 __NOTOC__
The Macchi M.12 was a biplane flying boat bomber designed by Alessandro Tonini, and produced in small numbers by Macchi in Italy in 1918.Taylor 1989, 617 It had a conventional design, generally similar to an enlarged version of other Ma ...
– flying boat bomber (1918)
*
Macchi M.14 – sesquiplane fighter (1918)
Interwar
*
Nieuport-Macchi N.29
The Nieuport-Delage NiD.29 was a French single-seat biplane fighter (C.I category) designed and built by Nieuport-Delage for the French Air Force.
Design and development
The prototype NiD.29 was an equal-span biplane with ailerons on both up ...
– biplane fighter (license-built
Nieuport-Delage NiD.29)
*
Macchi M.7''bis'' –
Schneider Trophy racing seaplane (1920)
*
Macchi M.15
The Macchi M.15 was an Italian reconnaissance aircraft, bomber and trainer, designed by Alessandro Tonini and Piero Bergonzi and built by Macchi.
Design and development
The M.15, which first flew in 1922, was a two-seat biplane with wings of ...
– reconnaissance, bomber, and trainer aircraft (1922)
*
Macchi M.16 – sports aircraft (1919)
*
Macchi M.17''bis'' – Schneider Trophy racing seaplane (1922)
*
Macchi M.18
The Macchi M.18 was a flying boat designed by Alessandro Tonini and produced by Macchi in Italy in the early 1920s.Taylor 1989, 617''World Aircraft Information Files'' File 901 Sheet 01 Originally planned as a passenger aircraft, it entered pro ...
– passenger, bombing, and reconnaissance flying boat
*
Macchi M.19
The Macchi M.19 was a 1920s Italian single-seat racing flying boat designed and built by Macchi for the 1920 Schneider Trophy race.
Development
Based on the earlier Macchi M.17 racer the M.19 first flew in August 1920. It was designed to meet ...
– Schneider Trophy racing seaplane (1920)
*
Macchi M7''ter'' – flying boat fighter (1923), major redesign of M.7
*
Macchi M.20
The Macchi M.20 was a single-engine biplane trainer aircraft produced by the Italian aeronautical company Aeronautica Macchi between the end of the 1910s and the beginning of the 1920s.
Produced in small numbers and intended for the civil aviatio ...
– civil trainer aircraft (ca. 1919)
*
Macchi M.24
The Macchi M.24 was a flying boat designed by Alessandro Tonini and produced by Macchi in Italy during the 1920s. Originally intended as a bomber, it was eventually produced for civilian use as well.Taylor 1989, 617''World Aircraft Information Fi ...
– flying boat bomber (1924)
*
Macchi M.26
The Macchi M.26 was an Italian flying boat fighter prototype of 1924 designed and manufactured by Macchi.
Design and development
In 1924, the '' Regia Marina'' (Italian Royal Navy) issued a requirement for a replacement for its Macchi M.7''te ...
– flying boat fighter prototype (1924)
*
Macchi M.33 – Schneider Trophy racing seaplane (1925)
*
Macchi M.39 – Schneider Trophy racing seaplane (1926)
*
Macchi M.40
The Macchi M.40 was a prototype 1920s Italian catapult-launched reconnaissance floatplane designed and built by Macchi, it did not enter production.
Design
The M.40 was an all-metal equal-span biplane powered by a Fiat A.20 piston engine. It ha ...
– reconnaissance seaplane (1928)
*
Macchi M.41
The Macchi M.41 was an Italian flying boat fighter prototype of 1927 designed and manufactured by Macchi. Its production model, the M.41''bis'', first flown in 1929, was in front line service from 1930 to 1938.
Design and development
M.41
In 19 ...
– flying boat fighter (1927)
*
Macchi M.52
The Macchi M.52 was an Italian racing seaplane designed and built by Macchi for the 1927 Schneider Trophy race. The M.52 and a later variant, the M.52bis or M.52R, both set world speed records for seaplanes.
Design and development
M.52
Mario C ...
– Schneider Trophy racing seaplane (1927)
*
Macchi M.52R
The Macchi M.52 was an Italian racing seaplane designed and built by Macchi for the 1927 Schneider Trophy race. The M.52 and a later variant, the M.52bis or M.52R, both set world speed records for seaplanes.
Design and development
M.52
Mario Ca ...
– Schneider Trophy racing seaplane (1929)
*
Macchi M.53 – reconnaissance floatplane (1929)
*
Macchi M.67 – Schneider Trophy racing seaplane (1929)
*
Macchi M.70 – light biplane landplane/floatplane (ca. 1929)
*
Macchi M.71
The Macchi M.71 was an Italian flying boat fighter of the 1930s designed and manufactured by Macchi.
Design and development
In 1930, Macchi built a new version of its M.41''bis'' flying boat fighter designed for launching by catapult from war ...
– flying boat fighter (1930)
*
Macchi M.C.72
The Macchi M.C. 72 is an experimental seaplane designed and built by the Italian aircraft company Macchi Aeronautica. The M.C. 72 held the world speed record for all aircraft for five years. In 1933 and 1934 it set world speed records for pisto ...
– Schneider Trophy racing seaplane (1931)
*
Macchi M.C.73
The Macchi M.C.73 was a two-seat touring landplane / floatplane built by Macchi in the early 1930s.
Intended to replace the Macchi M.70
The Macchi M.70, was an Italian light biplane of the late 1920s built by Macchi.
Design and development ...
- two-seat tourism plane
*
Macchi M.C.94 – flying boat airliner (1935)
*
Macchi M.C.100
The Macchi M.C.100 was an Italian commercial flying boat designed and built by Macchi.
Design and development
The M.C.100 was a shoulder-wing cantilever monoplane flying boat, with a family resemblance to the military twin-engine M.C.99 and ear ...
– passenger flying boat (1939)
*
Macchi M.C.200 ''Saetta'' – fighter (1939)
World War II
*
Macchi M.C.202 ''Folgore'' – fighter (1941)
*
Macchi M.C.205 ''Veltro'' – fighter (1942)
Post-World War II
*
Macchi M.B.308
The Macchi MB.308, later Aermacchi MB-308, was a light aircraft produced in Italy in the late 1940s.
Development
It was a conventional high-wing cantilever monoplane with fixed tricycle undercarriage. Construction throughout was of wood. The ...
– utility aircraft (1948)
*
Macchi M.B.320 – light civil utility aircraft (1949)
*
Macchi M.B.323 – trainer (1952)
*
Aermacchi MB-326
The Aermacchi or Macchi MB-326 is a light military jet trainer designed in Italy. Originally conceived as a two-seat trainer, there have also been single and two-seat light attack versions produced. It is one of the most commercially successf ...
– trainer and light attack aircraft (1957)
*
Aermacchi AL-60 – light civil utility aircraft (1959)
*
Aermacchi SF.260 – aerobatics aircraft and military trainer (1964)
*
Aermacchi MB-335 – initial designation of the AM.3
*
Aermacchi AM.3 – military utility aircraft (1967)
*
Aermacchi MB-338
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 rep ...
– trainer (early 1970s)
*
Aermacchi MB-340
The AMX International AMX is a ground-attack aircraft jointly developed by Brazil and Italy. The AMX is designated A-11 Ghibli by the Italian Air Force and A-1 by the Brazilian Air Force. The Italian name, "Ghibli", is taken from the hot dry w ...
– light ground-attack aircraft (early 1970s)
*
Aermacchi MB-339 – trainer (1976)
*
Aermacchi S-211 – trainer (1981)
*
Aermacchi M-290 RediGO – trainer (1985)
*
Alenia Aermacchi M-346 Master – trainer (2004)
*
Alenia Aermacchi M-311 – trainer (2005)
Motorcycles
1950s
Aermacchi began producing motorcycles in c. 1951; the first Aermacchi to be marketed to the public was a scooter/motorcycle hybrid called the 'Convertible', with the majority of working parts semi-enclosed, an under-saddle engine and foot boards, a conventional motorcycle fuel tank position and wheels. It was succeeded in 1953 by the 'Zeffiro' which was offered with a 125 cc or 150 cc
two-stroke engine; these later models had upgraded suspension but remained similar in appearance. In 1955 they produced the 125 cc Monsone, followed by the 150 cc Corsaro, both of which had
pivoted fork rear suspension and
telescopic front forks. They were
two-strokes like the early models and ran a 4-speed gearbox. In 1956 they produced their first over head valve
four-stroke engine
A four-stroke (also four-cycle) engine is an internal combustion (IC) engine in which the piston completes four separate strokes while turning the crankshaft. A stroke refers to the full travel of the piston along the cylinder, in either directi ...
on the Chimera fitted horizontally, a layout which would become a standard for the marque. Similar to their first offering, the Chimera kept many enclosed working parts. In 1957 they released a series of sport models, powered by a
single cylinder ohv engine in 175 cc or 250 cc
displacements. Aermacchi continued with scooter production, but sales were poor and they were unable to compete in the market amongst the well established
Vespas and
Lambretta
Lambretta () is the brand name of mainly motor scooters, initially manufactured in Milan, Italy, by Innocenti.
The name is derived from the word Lambrate, the suburb of Milan named after the river Lambro which flows through the area, and whe ...
s, and concentrated solely on the production of motorcycles.
1960s and beyond
In 1960, US business
Harley-Davidson motorcycles purchased 50% of Aermacchi's motorcycle division. The Italian branch of the brand was named 'Aermacchi-Harley-Davidson' and the first bike was a variation of the 'Ala Verde' suitably modified for the American market. This was also the year that the Chimera ceased production. The remaining motorcycle holdings were sold in 1974 to Harley-Davidson#Tarnished reputation, AMF-Harley-Davidson, with motorcycles continuing to be made at Varese. The business was sold to Cagiva in 1978.
Racing History
After the Harley Davidson investment, Aermacchi branched out into racing with a 250 cc production-volume Ala d'Oro for road racing competition. Early results varied but over years of bike development the team placed third during the 1966 350 cc World Championship with racer Renzo Pasolini and third again in 1968 with Kelvin Carruthers. The following year Carruthers competed at the Isle of Man TT.
A new era began in 1971 with the development of twin-cylinder two-stroke racers of 250cc and 350cc capacity, designed at Aermacchi by their chief engineer, Ing. William Soncini. The first 250cc racer was very fast, with 46hp at 11,000rpm, and weighed only 250lbs. After Harley-Davidson acquired 100% of Aermacchi in 1972, they funded further racing development at the Aermacchi factory, and the racers were branded with Harley-Davidson on their fuel tanks. These two-stroke twins provided Harley-Davidson with their only Grand Prix wins, and four List of Grand Prix motorcycle racing World champions, World Championships: 1974 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season, 250cc World Championship in 1974, 1975 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season, '75, and 1976 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season, '76, and the 1976 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season, 350cc World Championship in 1976, all under rider Walter Villa.
[Walker, Mick: Mick Walker's Italian Classic Gallery - the Racing Bikes. 1991, Haynes. ]
List of Motorcycle Models (incomplete)
*250 Cross
*350
*500 Linto
*Ala Azzura
*Ala Bianca
*:it:Aermacchi Ala d'Oro, Ala d'Oro (Golden Wing) [1958-1961]
*Ala Rossa
*:it:Aermacchi Ala Verde, Ala Verde
*Biccindrico
*:it:Aermacchi Chimera, Chimera
*Convrtible
*Corsaro
*Drixton
*Monsone
*Sprint 250
*Sprint 350
*Wisconsin 250
*Zeffiro
See also
*List of Italian companies
*Harley-Davidson Baja 100 off-road motorcycle
References
External links
Leonardo website
{{Major Italian motorcycle manufacturers
Aermacchi,
Italian brands
Defunct aircraft manufacturers of Italy
Defunct motorcycle manufacturers of Italy
Vehicle manufacturing companies established in 1913
Italian companies established in 1913
Defunct manufacturing companies of Italy
Alenia Aermacchi
Leonardo S.p.A.
Vehicle manufacturing companies disestablished in 2003
Italian companies disestablished in 2003