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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 . Nevertheless, Aeritalia continued development.
The third prototype used a more powerful Piaggio-built Lycoming GSO-480 -B1B6 in place of the original Continental GTSIO-520 -C, and this variant was designated AM.3C
In September 1970 the South African Air Force ordered 40 AM.3Cs, designating the aircraft the AM.3CM Bosbok (Bush-buck). The first aircraft was taken on charge in March 1973, with deliveries continuing until December 1975This is a list of aviation-related events from 1975: Events January A specially modified McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle sets eight time to climb records, including one of 3 minutes 27 seconds from standstill on the runway to a height of 30,000 metres (98,42, equipping 41 Squadron41 Squadron is a squadron of the South African Air Force. It is currently a light transport squadron. Motto: Detegimus Hostes (We Find the Enemy) First formed: 16 October 1940 Historic aircraft flown: Hawker Hartbees, Curtiss Mohawk IV, Hawker Hurricane, and 42 Squadron.
The Bosbok saw extensive action during the South African military operations in AngolaThis article is about the nation, for the prison see Angola Prison Angola is a country in southwestern Africa bordering Namibia, Congo-Kinshasa, Congo-Brazzaville and Zambia and with a west coast along the Atlantic Ocean. A former Portuguese colony, it ha between 1975This is a list of aviation-related events from 1975: Events January A specially modified McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle sets eight time to climb records, including one of 3 minutes 27 seconds from standstill on the runway to a height of 30,000 metres (98,42 and 1989This is a list of aviation-related events from 1989: Events January January 4 US Navy F-14 Tomcats shoot down two Libyan Air Force Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23s January 8 a British Midland Boeing 737-400 crashes on the M1 motorway near Kegworth, killing 32 peo, 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 four underwing hardpoints from which a variety of ordnance could be hung, including machine gun pods, light bombs and smoke-rocket pods. Each of the two inner hardpoints was stressed for a 170 kg (375 lb) load, with the two outer points being stressed for a 91 kg (200 lb) load.
Roles performed by the Bosbok in SAAF service include:
It was in the dangerous role of target-marking that the Bosbok really excelled, in which it used the following technique: The aircraft would run in to the target at tree-top height, pull up to around 92 m (300 ft) when nearly overhead the target, line up the nose on the target and release the rockets, before quickly turning away and diving back to tree-top level to avoid ground-fire.
Using this method, a Bosbok was once credited with destroying an entire 37 mm anti-aircraftAmerican troops man an anti-aircraft gun near the Algerian coastline in 1943 Anti-aircraft or air defense is any method of combating military aircraft from the ground. Various guns and cannons have been used in this role since the first military aircraft gun position with a lucky direct hit from one of its smoke marker rockets.
Following the end of South AfricaSouth Africa is a republic at the southern tip of Africa. It is bordered to the north by Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe, to the north-east by Mozambique and Swaziland. Lesotho is contained entirely inside the borders of South Africa. South Africa is one o's involvement in the Angolan War in 1989This is a list of aviation-related events from 1989: Events January January 4 US Navy F-14 Tomcats shoot down two Libyan Air Force Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23s January 8 a British Midland Boeing 737-400 crashes on the M1 motorway near Kegworth, killing 32 peo and the subsequent downsizing of the SAAF, the Bosbok was retired from service in 1992This is a list of aviation-related events from 1992: Events The European Commission approves three new regulations to liberalize air travel within the European Union. EU airlines are gradually given unlimited rights to serve airports in other member state.