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thumb|Lockheed-Azacárate LASA 60

The Aermacchi AL-60 is 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. It was also built in quantity under licence by Aermacchi in Italy and Atlas Aircraft Corporation in South Africa.

Design and development

In the late 1950s, the American aircraft designer Al Mooney, who had recently joined Lockheed after leaving the company that bore his name, was given the task of designing a utility aircraft, the CL-402, suitable for use in underdeveloped countries. As Lockheed could not build the design at an economic price in the United States, it was instead intended for the aircraft to be built under licence outside the United States, where labour costs were lower. The first prototype CL-402, powered by a Continental IO-470-G engine, flew for the first time at Lockheed's Marietta, Georgia on 15 September 1959, with a second prototype, powered by a turbocharged TSIO-470-B engine rated at followed a few months later.

The initial production deal was made with Mexico, where a joint venture, Lockheed-Azcarate SA (LASA) was set up to build the CL-402 as the LASA-60, with a factory being built near San Luis Potosí. While it was planned that 240 aircraft would be built by LASA by 1963, the type was less popular than hoped, with LASA stopping production in April 1962. LASA built 41 LASA-60s, with 18 aircraft purchased by the Mexican Air Force. Production began of a batch of 16 aircraft in 1961, but was stopped after 11 had been completed.

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.

Variants

thumb|right|[[Industrias Kaiser Argentina|Kaiser-built L-402 at Don Torcuato near Buenos Aires in 1972]]

thumb|An Atlas C4M Kudu at the [[South African Air Force Museum]]

thumb|Lockheed-Azcárate LASA-60 at the [[Mexican Air Force Museum.]]

;CL-402

:Lockheed prototypes powered by a turbocharged Continental TSIO-470-B engine.

;AL-60B-2 Santa Mari

:Production Aermacchi version tricycle landing gear and powered by a turbocharged Continental TSIO-470-B. 81 built.

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  • Mexican Air Force

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  • Military of Mauritania

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  • Rhodesian Air Force

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  • South African Air Force

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  • Air Force of Zimbabwe

Specifications (AL-60B2)

See also

References

Notes

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.
  • photograph and details (in Spanish) of the sole Chilean example, c/n 1002
  • Atlas Kudu Survivors List with Pictures
  • Aircraft.co.za - Aermacchi AL-60 / Atlas Kudu