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Aermacchi S-211

The Aermacchi S-211 is a jet-powered military trainer aircraft designed and originally marketed by SIAI Marchetti as the S.211. Some 60 aircraft have been sold to air forces around the world. Aermacchi bought the production rights in 1997. The redesigned M-311 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.

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. The aircraft was designed with a secondary close air support capability with four underwing hardpoints.

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 partnered with Grumman, and then Northrop Grumman after 1994.

Like many military trainers, the S-211 can be armed for weapons training or light ground attack duties.

Variants

S-211 : Original production version with total of approximately sixty built and were operated by the Air Forces of Haiti, Philippines and Singapore.S-211A : Proposed version developed with input from Grumman for the JPATS (two prototypes, converted from two former Haitian S-211 aircraft).M-311 : Modernized and uprated version announced by Aermacchi in 2004 (two protoypes built).

Operators

Philippine Air Force (PAF) - 25 aircraft, including one partially completed airframe as spare parts and 15 assembled locally by Philippine Aerospace Development Corporation. Due to accidents, 14 remaining in service but only 4 are airworthy.

Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) - total of 32 aircraft including 24 assembled locally by Singapore Aircraft Industries and two former Haitian aircraft were acquired as attrition replacements.

130 Sqn - 27 airframes in operational use (5 airframes were write offs due to accidents). Since April 2008, 130 Squadron has been gradually replacing their fleet with the newly-acquired Pilatus PC-21.
131 Sqn - disbanded in 1996, following the move of RSAF Flight Training School to Pearce Airbase (Australia), all remaining aircraft transferred to the former.

Former operator

Haitian Air Force (HAF) - Four aircraft were delivered in June 1985 , they were retired and put up for sale on 23 April 1990.

Civilian

Two second-hand aircraft are operated by private companies.

Accidents and incidents

On 21 September 1992 a Philippine Air Force aircraft crashed into the sea after taking off from Antonio Bautista Air Base, Palawan, the fate of both the crews and airframe are listed as missing by the PAF.