Aermacchi AM-3

AM-3C
AM-3C Bosbok in SAAF camouflage
Description
Role	Forward air control, reconnaissance and target marking
Crew	2 - Pilot and observer
First Flight	1967
Entered Service	1973
Manufacturer	Aermacchi/AERFER(Aeritalia)
Dimensions
Length	28ft 7.75in	8.3m
Wingspan	41ft 5.6in	12.64m
Height	8ft 11in	2.72m
Wing area	ft²	m²
Weights
Empty	2 381lb	1 080kg
Loaded	3 300lb	1 500kg
Maximum takeoff	3 748lb	1 700kg
Capacity
Powerplant
Engines	One Piaggio-Lycoming GSO-480-B1B6
Power	340hp	254kW
Performance
Maximum speed	173mph	278km/h
Combat range	miles	km
Ferry range	619miles	990km
Service ceiling	ft	m
Rate of climb	ft/min	m/min
Wing loading	lb/ft²	kg/m²
Power/Mass	hp/lb	kW/kg
Avionics
Avionics
Armament
Guns	Up to 2 machine gun pods
Bombs
Rockets	Up to 2 smoke-rocket pods
Other

The AM-3C was the result of a joint venture between Aermacchi and Aeritalia (then Aerfer Industrie Aerospaciali Meridionali) in response to an Italian Army requirement for an aircraft to replace the Cessna L-19, and was initially designated the MB.335.
The first prototype, constructed by Aermacchi, flew on 12 May 1967, and the second prototype, constructed by AERFER, flew on 22 August 1968, but the aircraft lost the Italian Army contract to the SIAI-Marchetti SM.1019.

Bosbok

In September 1970 the South African Air Force ordered 40 AM-3Cs, designating the aircraft the Bosbok (Bush-buck). The first aircraft was taken on charge in March 1973, with deliveries continuing until December 1975, equipping 41 Squadron and 42 Squadron

The Bosbok saw extensive action during the South African military operations in Angola between 1975 and 1989, during which it wore an olive-drab/dark earth camouflage instead of the light-grey paintscheme in which it was delivered.
The SAAF's Bosboks had two underwing hardpoints from which a variety of ordnance could be hung, including machine gun pods, light bombs and smoke-rocket pods.

Roles performed by the Bosbok in SAAF service include:

Forward air control
Radio relay (referred to as "Telstar duty" by the SAAF)
Target marking (using smoke-rockets)
Reconnaissance/observation (including artillery spotting)
Casevac
Liason

Following the end of South Africa's involvement in the Angolan War in 1989 and the subsequent downsizing of the SAAF, the Bosbok was retired from service in 1992.

Other operators

The only other nation to operate the AM-3C was Rwanda, which had 3.