THE AIRFORCE - AIRCRAFT - IMPALA MK I
Aircraft Stats:
Powerplant: 1 x 3,410 lb Rolls Royce Viper turbojet Mk540
Speed: 770 kph, 478mph mph
Range: 1 665km, 1,035miles
Seats: 2
Length: 10.65m, 34ft 11in
Span: 10.56m, 8ft 8in
Empty Weight: 2 239kg, 4,930lb
Max T/O Weight: 3 765kg, 8,300lb
Period of Service: 1966 - 2005
Weapons:
0.50 Inch Browning Machinegun, 250 kg Low-Drag Bomb, 250 lb Bomb, 37mm SNEB Rocket, 4.5 kg Practice Bomb, 50 Gallon Napalm Tank, 500 lb Bomb, 68mm SNEB Rocket, AS.11 Missile, Mk 81 250 lb Bomb, Type 155 Launcher, Type 181 Launcher, Type 361 Launcher
Squadrons:
None specified
Attrition:
47 incidents recorded
0.50 Inch Browning Machinegun, 250 kg Low-Drag Bomb, 250 lb Bomb, 37mm SNEB Rocket, 4.5 kg Practice Bomb, 50 Gallon Napalm Tank, 500 lb Bomb, 68mm SNEB Rocket, AS.11 Missile, Mk 81 250 lb Bomb, Type 155 Launcher, Type 181 Launcher, Type 361 Launcher
Squadrons:
None specified
Attrition:
47 incidents recorded
Impala Mk I
Status: Retired
Manufacturer: Atlas
Country of Manufacture: South Africa
Role: Training
Aermacchi began design work on the MB-326 in 1954 and it first flew in December 1957. Conventional in appearance, the MB-326 had a single Bristol-Siddeley Viper turbojet engine, a low, straight wing, and the two seats in tandem.
The SAAF acquired 151 MB-326M aircraft, locally known as the Impala Mk I. Approximately 16 were either manufactured in Italy or were asembled in SA from Italian kits, starting i 1966, with the balance of the 151 aircraft acquired built locally by Atlas Aircraft Corporation.
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