The Aermacchi AL-60/Atlas C4M Kudu is a light, general purpose aircraft designed by Al Mooney of Lockheed. After Lockheed decided that the project is not feasible, it was built under licence by Aermacchi in Italy and the Atlas Aircraft Corporation in South Africa.
The AL-60/Kudu is a semi-cantilever monoplane, with either tricycle or tailwheel undercarriage depending on the variant. The AL-60 is powered by the Continental 260hp engine, while the Kudu has the much more powerful Lycoming 340hp engine. The fuselage is designed in such a way to accommodate up to seven passengers, or two stretchers if used in the medical role.
Military operators include the Mexican Air Force, Mauritania, Rhodesian Air Force, South African Air Force and Tunisia. A number of ex-military aircraft have since been converted for civilian use, and in South Africa a turboprop conversion of the Kudu is also being manufactured for use in the skydiving role.
History of The Aermacchi AL-60/Atlas C4M Kudu
The AL-60 was a light civil utility aircraft originally designed by Lockheed in the United States but which never went into production in that country. A small number were built in Mexico and Argentina and under licence in Italy.
Designed by Al Mooney, Lockheed flew only two prototypes of the AL-60 (in 1959) before deciding that the aircraft would be unprofitable in the US marketplace. Instead, the company chose to manufacture it under a joint venture in Mexico as Lockheed-Azcarate (LASA). In 1960, 18 were produced for the Mexican Air Force as the LASA-60.
In Italy, Aermacchi purchased a licence to produce the type, first in its original configuration as the AL-60B, then in a modified version for various African customers as the AL-60C. This latter version changed from the original tricycle undercarriage to a taildragger arrangement.
General characteristics (AL-60F-5 Trojan)
Crew : One/Two
First Flight : 16 February 1974
Country of Origin : South Africa
Accommodation : Seven passengers / Two Stretchers
Capacity: Seven passengers
Length: 8.80 m (28 ft 10 in)
Wingspan: 11.9 m (39 ft 4 in)
Height: 3.30 m (10 ft 10 in)
Wing area: 19.6 m² (210 ft²)
Empty weight: 1,068 kg (2,394 lb)
Max takeoff weight: 2,051 kg (4,500 lb)
Powerplant: 1× Lycoming IO-720-A1A piston engine, 298 kW (400 hp)
Performance (AL-60F-5 Trojan)
Maximum speed: 251 km/h (156 mph)
Range: 1,037 km (560 miles)
Service ceiling 4,150 m (13,615 ft)
Rate of climb: 5.5 m/s (1,085 ft/min)
Powerplant
Number Of Engines : One
Powerplant type : Piaggio-Lycoming GSO-480-B1B3 six-cylinder horizontally-opposed piston engine
Max Power Rating : 254kW (340hp)
Dimensions
Length : 9.04m (29ft 8in)
Height : 3.66m (12ft)
Wingspan : 13.00m (42ft 7.8in)
Weights
Max Take-off Weight : 2,040kg (4,497lb)
Landing Gear
Type : Fixed tailwheel type with a single wheel on each unit
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