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Aermacchi AL-60

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Lockheed-Azcarate SA (LASA)
Company typeJoint venture
IndustryAerospace
Founded1959; 67 years ago (1959)
Headquarters
San Luis Potosí
,
Mexico
ProductsLASA-60 aircraft


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File:Lockheed LASA-60 XB-GUZ c61 (mfr via RJF) (18350167242).jpg
Lockheed-Azacárate LASA 60

The Aermacchi AL-60 represents a lightweight civil utility aircraft developed during the late 1950s and early 1960s, initially conceptualized by Al Mooney at the Lockheed Corporation in the United States. When Lockheed opted not to manufacture the model domestically, limited production took place in Mexico, with additional assembly occurring in Argentina at Aviones Lockheed-Kaiser Argentina’s facility in Santa Isabel, Córdoba. The aircraft was produced under license on a larger scale by Aermacchi in Italy and by Atlas Aircraft Corporation in South Africa.

Design and development

During the late 1950s, American aeronautical engineer Al Mooney, who had recently joined Lockheed Corporation after departing from the namesake Mooney company, was tasked with creating a utility plane designated CL-402, aimed primarily at operations in developing nations. Due to cost inefficiencies in U.S. manufacturing, Lockheed planned for production under license abroad where labor expenses were more economical.[1] [2] The CL-402's maiden flight occurred on 15 September 1959 at Lockheed's facility in Marietta, Georgia, powered by a 250 hp (190 kW) Continental IO-470-G engine. A subsequent prototype featuring a turbocharged TSIO-470-B engine rated at 260 hp (190 kW) followed within months.[1][3]

The initial manufacturing agreement was established with Mexico through a joint venture named Lockheed-Azcarate SA (LASA), which produced the CL-402 as the LASA-60 at a plant near San Luis Potosí.[2] The aircraft received its US Federal Aviation Administration type certification on 5 April 1960.[4] Although plans called for producing 240 units by 1963, demand fell short of expectations, leading LASA to cease production in April 1962.[5] In total, LASA manufactured 41 LASA-60 airplanes, with the Mexican Air Force acquiring 18 of them.[4]

In Argentina, Lockheed partnered with Industrias Kaiser Argentina to form Aviones Lockheed-Kaiser.[4][6] Production commenced on a batch of sixteen aircraft in 1961 but halted after completing eleven units.[4]

Meanwhile, Italian manufacturer Aermacchi secured a license to produce the aircraft initially as the AL-60B, maintaining the original design. This was later modified into the AL-60C variant tailored for several African customers; this version notably replaced the original tricycle landing gear with a conventional tailwheel configuration.

The AL-60C variant was produced under license by Atlas Aircraft Corporation in South Africa and was designated as the Atlas C4M Kudu. More than forty units were built and operated by the South African Air Force from 1974 through 1991.

Several C4M Kudu aircraft remain active in private ownership today and have demonstrated exceptional performance as platforms for skydiving operations. These have been retrofitted with turbine engines and are known as the Atlas Angel or Turbine Kudu.[7][8]

In 1968, Macchi transferred ownership rights of the design to Northwest Industries based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. This company further developed the aircraft into the Northwest Ranger, with ongoing enhancements continuing until 1972.[9]

Variants

File:Lockheed CL402 Kaizer LQ-GOM Don Torcuato BA 23.04.72 edited-2.jpg
L-402 constructed by Kaiser at Don Torcuato near Buenos Aires in 1972
File:Atlas C4M Kudu-001.jpg
An Atlas C4M Kudu displayed at the South African Air Force Museum
File:Lockheed-Azcárate LASA-60 2.jpg
Lockheed-Azcárate LASA-60 exhibited at the Mexican Air Force Museum.
CL-402
Lockheed's prototype models equipped with a turbocharged 260 hp (194 kW) Continental TSIO-470-B powerplant.
CL-402-2
Similar to the CL-402 but fitted with a 250 hp (186 kW) Continental IO-470-R engine.
LASA-60
Produced by Lockheed-Azcarate in Mexico, encompassing both CL-402 and CL-402-2 versions. A total of 44 units were manufactured. Plans for production by Lockheed-Kaiser in Argentina were ultimately abandoned.
AL-60B-1 Santa Maria
The initial Aermacchi-manufactured variant featuring tricycle landing gear and powered by a 250 hp (186 kW) Continental IO-470-R engine. Four examples were completed.
AL-60B-2 Santa Maria
Aermacchi's production model with tricycle landing gear and equipped with a turbocharged 260 hp (194 kW) Continental TSIO-470-B engine. A total of 81 units were produced.
AL-60C-4
This version incorporated conventional landing gear, an independent pilot's door, an enlarged vertical stabilizer, and was powered by a geared 340 hp (254 kW) Lycoming GSO-480-B1 engine. Only one prototype was constructed.
AL-60C-4M Kudu
Manufactured by Atlas for use by the South African Air Force, powered by a geared 340 hp (254 kW) Lycoming GSO-480-B1B3 engine. The total production comprised three prototypes plus 40 operational aircraft.
AL-60C-5 Conestoga
A strengthened airframe version of the AL-60C-4, fitted with a 400 hp (298 kW) Lycoming IO-720-A1A engine. Thirteen units were built.
AL-60D-3
Based on the AL-60B-2 but powered by a geared Continental GIO-470-R engine. Only one aircraft was produced.
AL-60F-5 Trojan
A variant similar to the AL-60C-5 but equipped with tricycle landing gear. One example was built.

Operators

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Template:Country data Rhodesia
File:Flag of South Africa (1928–1982).svg South Africa
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Specifications (AL-60B2)

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See also

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Notes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named abap19
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named ae92p51
  3. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named ae92p512
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named abap20
  5. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named ae92p52
  6. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named JAWA61 p7
  7. ↑ World Airnews - Kudu with a Turboprop - Birth of an Angel
  8. ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  9. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named P&P

Bibliography

  • Flores, Santiago A., Station Wagon: LASA-60, a Mexican Dream Turned Sour, Air Enthusiast, March–April 2001, Issue 92, pp. 50–53.
  • Simpson, Rod, The Voyage of the Santa Maria, Air-Britain Aviation World, Spring 2023, pp. 19–23.
  • 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

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