Aermacchi AL-60

LASA-60 / AL-60 / C4M Kudu

Operational Aermacchi AL-60B-2 registered in Germany
Role	Utility aircraft
Manufacturer	Lockheed-Azcarate Aermacchi Atlas Aircraft Corporation
Designer	Al Mooney
First flight	15 September 1959^[1]
Status	Retired
Primary users	Mexican Air Force South African Air Force
Produced	1974-1979 South Africa
Variants	Northwest Ranger

The Aermacchi AL-60 was a light civil utility aircraft of the late 1950s and early 1960s, originally designed by Al Mooney of Lockheed in the United States. After the company decided not to build the aircraft in the US, it was manufactured in small quantities in Mexico and a few were assembled in Argentina (Santa Isabel, Córdoba, by Aviones Lockheed-Kaiser Argentina but the new factory was never built). It was also built in quantity under licence by Aermacchi in Italy^[2] and Atlas Aircraft Corporation.

Development

Lockheed flew only two prototypes of the AL-60 (in 1959) before deciding that it would be unprofitable in the US marketplace. Instead, the company chose to manufacture it under a joint venture in Mexico as Lockheed-Azcarate (LASA). 18 were produced in 1960 for the Mexican Air Force, as the LASA-60.

In Italy, Aermacchi purchased a licence to produce the type, first in its original configuration as the AL-60B, then in a modified version for various African customers as the AL-60C. This latter version changed from the original tricycle undercarriage to a taildragger arrangement.

The AL-60C version was built under license by Atlas Aircraft Corporation in South Africa. This aircraft was designated the Atlas C4M and known as the Kudu. Over 40 aircraft were built and served the South African Air Force between 1974 and 1991.

A number of C4M Kudu aircraft are still flying privately and have proven well in the role of skydive release aircraft. There is currently a project underway to re-engine the Kudu with turbine engines. This design known as the Atlas Angel or Turbine Kudu.^[3]

In 1968 Macchi sold the rights to the aircraft to Northwest Industries of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada and the design was developed into the Northwest Ranger, with development continuing until 1972.^[4]

Variants

Kaiser-built L-402 at Don Torcuato near Buenos Aires in 1972

An Atlas C4M Kudu at the South African Air Force Museum

L-402: Lockheed prototypes and a few assembled by Kaizer
LASA-60: Mexican production model (44 built)
AL-60B-1 Santa Maria: Original Aermacchi-built version (4 built)
AL-60B-2 Santa Mari: Production Aermacchi version (81 built)
AL-60C-5 Conestoga: Aermacchi-built version for the Central African Republic
AL-60F-5 Trojan: Aermacchi-built version for Rhodesia (~10 units)
Atlas C4M Kudu: Atlas-built version for South Africa

Military operators

Central African Republic

Central African Republic Air Force

Italy

Italian Air Force operated one Aermacchi AL-60 from 1962 until 1963^[5]

Mexico

Mexican Air Force

Mauritania

Military of Mauritania

Rhodesia

Rhodesian Air Force

South Africa

South African Air Force

Tunisia

Specifications (AL-60B2)

Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1966–67^[6]

General characteristics

Crew: One
Capacity: Seven passengers or 454 kg (1,000 lb) cargo
Length: 8.79 m (28 ft 10 in)
Wingspan: 11.84 m (38 ft 10 in)
Height: 3.25 m (10 ft 8 in)
Wing area: 19.54 m² (210.3 ft²)
Empty weight: 998 kg (2,200 lb)
Max. takeoff weight: 1,746 kg (4,500 lb)
Powerplant: 1 × Continental TSIO-470-B-A1A air-cooled flat-six, 193 kW (260 hp)

Performance

Never exceed speed: 283 km/h (153 knots, 176 mph)
Maximum speed: 270 km/h (146 knots, 168 mph) at 4,800 m (15,750 ft)
Cruise speed: 206 km/h (111 knots, 128 mph) at 3,000 m (9,850 ft) (econ cruise)
Stall speed: 87 km/h (46 knots, 54 mph) (flaps down)
Range: 885 km (478 nmi, 550 miles)
Service ceiling: 6,700 m (22,000 ft)
Rate of climb: 4.3 m/s (840 ft/min)

References

Notes

↑ Taylor 1961, p. 272.
↑ "none". Flying: 8. December 1969.
↑ World Airnews - Kudu with a Turboprop - Birth of an Angel
↑ Plane and Pilot: 1978 Aircraft Directory, page 58. Werner & Werner Corp, Santa Monica CA, 1977. ISBN 0-918312-00-0
↑ aeroflight
↑ Taylor 1966, pp. 88–89.

Bibliography

Taylor, John W. R. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1961–62. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Company, 1961.
Taylor, John W. R. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1966–67. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Company, 1966.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lockheed L-402.

Aircraft produced by Macchi/Aermacchi

Macchi	L.1 L.2 M.3 M.4 M.5 M.6 M.7 M.8 M.9 M.12 M.14 M.15 M.16 M.17 M.18 M.19 M.20 M.24 M.26 M.33 M.39 M.40 M.41 M.52 M.53 M.67 M.70 M.71 M.C.72 M.C.73 M.C.77 M.C.94 M.C.99 M.C.100 M.C.200 M.C.201 M.C.202 M.C.205 M.B.308 M.B.320 M.B.323

Aermacchi	MB-326 MB-335 MB-338 MB-339 MB-340 M-311/M-345

Joint ventures	AM.3 AMX M-346

Purchased designs	AL-60 S-211 SF.260 M-290

Atlas/Denel aircraft

Fixed-wing aircraft	ACE Bosbok Cheetah Impala Kudu

Helicopters	Rooivalk Oryx XH-1 Alpha

Lockheed and Lockheed Martin aircraft

Airliners and civil transports	Vega Model 8 Sirius Altair Model 9 Orion Model 10 Electra Model 12 Electra Junior Model 14 Super Electra Model 18 Lodestar Constellation L-049 L-649 L-749 L-1049 Super Constellation L-1249 Super Constellation L-1649 Starliner Saturn L-188 Electra L-402 JetStar L-100 Hercules L-1011 TriStar

Military transports	C-69 Constellation C-121 Constellation C-130 Hercules C-130J Super Hercules HC-130 KC-130 LC-130 MC-130 C-141 Starlifter C-5 Galaxy R6V Constitution Tristar (RAF)

Attack and bombers	YP-24 Hudson XB-30 Ventura AC-130 A-4AR Fightinghawk F-117 Nighthawk Have Blue FB-22

Drones/UAVs	AQM-60 Kingfisher D-21 Desert Hawk Desert Hawk III MQM-105 Aquila Polecat RQ-3 Darkstar RQ-170 Sentinel DC-130

EW and reconnaissance	YO-3 EC-121 Warning Star EC-130 EC-130H Compass Call WC-130 EP-3 U-2 TR-X A-12 SR-71 Blackbird

Fighters	XFM-2 YP-24 P-38 Lightning XP-49 XP-58 Chain Lightning P-80 Shooting Star XF-90 F-94 Starfire F-104 Starfighter variants YF-12 F-16 Fighting Falcon F-22 Raptor YF-22 F-35 Lightning II

Helicopters	CL-475 XH-51 AH-56 Cheyenne VH-71 Kestrel

Maritime patrol	P-2 Neptune P-3 Orion P-7 S-3 Viking CP-140 Aurora

Trainers	T-33 T2V SeaStar

Experimental	L-133 NF-104A Senior Peg Senior Prom XC-35 XF-104 XV-4 Hummingbird X-7 X-17 X-26B Frigate CL-1200 Lancer X-33 X-35 X-44 X-55 X-56 XFV

Other	Air Express Big Dipper Model 44 Excalibur Explorer Little Dipper

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