SIAI-Marchetti S.211

S.211/S-211
N852TC, a privately owned S.211 in flight
Role Basic jet trainer / Light attack aircraft
National origin Italy
Manufacturer SIAI-Marchetti
Aermacchi
First flight 10 April 1981
Introduction 1984
Status Active service with the Philippine Air Force
Primary users Republic of Singapore Air Force (historical)
Philippine Air Force
Haitian Air Force (historical)
Produced 1981-1994
Number built ~60
Unit cost
$1.2 million (in 1981 dollars)[1]
Developed into Alenia Aermacchi M-345

The SIAI-Marchetti S.211 (later Aermacchi S-211 is a turbofan-powered military trainer aircraft designed and originally marketed by SIAI-Marchetti. Some 60 aircraft have been sold to air forces around the world. Aermacchi bought the production rights in 1997. The redesigned M-311 (now M-345) is currently under development by Alenia Aermacchi.

Design and development

SIAI-Marchetti began work on the aircraft in 1976 as a private venture basic trainer, hoping to offer it to the company's existing customer base of small air forces operating their piston-engined SF.260. Formally announced in Paris the following year, interest was strong enough to justify the construction of two prototypes, the first of which flew on 10 April 1981. The Singapore Air Force placed the first order for ten aircraft in 1983.[2]

The S-211 is a small tandem two-seat shoulder-wing monoplane with a retractable tricycle landing gear and powered by a single Pratt & Whitney Canada JT15D-4C turbofan.[2] Also, the aircraft was designed for a secondary close air support capability with four underwing hardpoints for the carriage of weapons and other external stores.[2]

The S-211A was a slightly modified and updated variant of the S-211, was a losing contender in the USA's Joint Primary Aircraft Training System (JPTATS) aircraft selection. Among the seven to enter, the Raytheon/Pilatus entry won, which became the T-6 Texan II. The S-211 team was initially partnered with Grumman, and then Northrop Grumman after 1994.

Philippine Air Force S-211 Developments

Since the 1990s, the Philippine Air Force has been using the S-211 as a Trainer with secondary Attack Capability. These were redesignated as AS-211s and nicknamed as "Warriors".[3] With the retirement of the F-5 fighters in 2005, the additional task of air defense was assigned to it as well. Because of this, the Philippine Air Force initiated some improvements to the AS-211s to improve its combat capability through a series of programs and innovations.

The first program was called "Project Falcon" which installed the Norsight Optical Sight from retired F-5s into the AS-211. The program was initiated by Lieutenant Colonel Enrique Dela Cruz, the Group Commander of the 5th Tactical Fighter Group.[3] This was followed by the "Project Falcon Uniform" program which repainted the aircraft with a 2-tone Light and Dark Ghost Gray paint scheme along with low visibility markings to reduce their overall visibility.[3]

The "Project Falcon Hear" program saw the optimizing of air-ground communications on the AS-211 by upgrading and installing the AN/ARC-34 UHF radios from the F-5A/B.[3] These aircraft were also fitted with a Belly Gun Pod designed, developed and manufactured by Philippine company Aerotech Industries Philippines, Inc. (AIPI). Each Pod is equipped with an M3 .50 cal Machine Gun, an automatic charger and approximately 240 rounds of .50 cal ammunition.[4]

Variants

S-211
Original production version with total of approximately sixty built and was operated by the Air Forces of Haiti, Philippines and Singapore.[5]
S-211A
Proposed version developed with input from Grumman for the JPATS (two prototypes, converted from two former Haitian S-211 aircraft).[5]
AS-211
Served as Trainers with secondary combat capability with the Philippine Air Force and were nicknamed as "Warriors". Starting in 2005, these aircraft were upgraded by fitting the Norsight Optical Sight and AN/ARC-34 UHF Radios from retired F-5s.[3] It is also equipped with a .50 caliber belly Gun Pod made by Aerotech.[4]
M-311
Modernized and uprated version announced by Aermacchi in 2004 (two prototypes built).[5]

Operators

Military operators

Lynn Garrison with Haitian Corps d’Aviation Marchetti and crew, September 1990
RSAF 130Sqn's S.211 (9V-382) in flight circa 1988, this aircraft was subsequently written off after an accident in 2006
 Haiti
 Philippines
 Singapore

Civilian operators

 Australia
 United States

Accidents and incidents

Aircraft on display

After retirement, 9V-384 was preserved as a gate guard in the Republic of Singapore Air Force Museum at Paya Lebar Air Base.

Specifications (S-211)

Data from Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1988-89[21]

General characteristics

Performance

Armament

See also

Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

References

Notes
Bibliography
  • The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985). Orbis Publishing. 
  • Taylor, John W R (1988). Janes All the World's Aircraft 1988-89. Coulsdon, Surrey, UK: Jane's. ISBN 0-7106-0867-5. 
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