S-211
An S-211 from the 7th Tactical Fighter Squadron Squadron, Philippine Air Force
Role	Light attack aircraft and basic jet trainer
National origin	Italy
Manufacturer	SIAI Marchetti (1981 - 1997) Alenia Aermacchi (1997 - present)
Designed by	SIAI Marchetti, 1976
First flight	10 April 1981
Introduced	1984
Status	Active
Primary users	Republic of Singapore Air Force Philippine Air Force
Number built	~60
Variants	Alenia Aermacchi M-311

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.

[edit] 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.^[1]

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.^[1] The aircraft was designed with a secondary close air support capability with four underwing hardpoints.^[1]

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.

[edit] Variants

S-211 

Original production version with total of approximately sixty built and were operated by the Air Forces of Haiti, Philippines and Singapore.^[2]

S-211A 

Proposed version developed with input from Grumman for the JPATS (two prototypes, converted from two former Haitian S-211 aircraft).^[2]

M-311 

Modernized and uprated version announced by Aermacchi in 2004 (two prototypes built).^[2]

[edit] Operators

RSAF 130Sqn's S.211 in flight (382 was written off after an accident in 2006), circa 1988. © MINDEF

 Philippines

• Philippine Air Force (PAF) - 25 aircraft, including one partially completed airframe as spare parts and 15 assembled locally by Philippine Aerospace Development Corporation.^[2] Due to accidents, 14 remaining in service but only 4 are airworthy.^[3][4][5]
  • 105th Training Squadron
  • 7th Tactical Fighter Squadron

 Singapore

• 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.^[2]
  • 130 Sqn - 26 airframes in operational use (6 airframes were write offs due to accidents)^[2]. Since April 2008, 130 Squadron has been gradually replacing their fleet with the newly-acquired Pilatus PC-21.^[6]
  • 131 Sqn - disbanded in 1996, following the move of RSAF Flight Training School to Pearce Airbase (Australia), all remaining aircraft transferred to the former.^[7]

[edit] Former operator

 Haiti

• Haitian Air Force (HAF) - Four aircraft were delivered in June 1985 , they were retired and put up for sale on 23 April 1990.^[8]

[edit] Civilian

 United States

• Two second-hand aircraft are operated by private companies.^[9][10]

[edit] 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.^[11]

[edit] Specifications (S-211)

Data from Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1988-89 ^[12]

General characteristics

• Crew: Two (student and instructor)
• Length: 9.31 m (30 ft 6½ in)
• Wingspan: 8.43 m (27 ft 8 in)
• Height: 3.8 m (12 ft 5½ in)
• Wing area: 12.6 m² (135.63 ft²)
• Empty weight: 1,850 kg (4,070 lb)
• Max takeoff weight: 2,750 kg (6,050 lb)
• Powerplant: 1× Pratt & Whitney JT15D-4C turbofan engine, 11.12 kN (2,500 lbf)

Performance

• Never exceed speed: Mach 0.8 (740 km/h, 400 knots, 460 mph)
• Maximum speed: 667 km/h (360 knots, 414 mph)
• Stall speed: 138 km/h (74 knots, 86 mph)
• Range: 1,668 km (900 nm, 1,036 miles)
• Service ceiling: 12,200 m (40,000 ft)
• Rate of climb: 21 m/s (4,200 ft/min)
• Thrust/weight: 0.413:1
• Acceleration limits: +6g (+58.9 m/s²) /−3.0g (−29 m/s²)

Armament

• Up to 660 kg (1,455 lb) of weapons on four hardpoints, including gunpods, bombs, and rockets.

[edit] See also

Related development

• Alenia Aermacchi M-311
  

Comparable aircraft

• CASA C-101
• Dassault/Dornier Alpha Jet
  

[edit] References

[edit] Bibliography

[edit] External links

• Unofficial S-211 site
• Republic of Singapore Air Force Trainer Factsheet
• SIAI-Marchetti S.211 Factsheet
• S211A Jet Trainer, Italy