Aermacchi SF.260

The Aermacchi SF.260 is an Italian single-engine two-seat aerobatic trainer + light attack aircraft — one of the most-popular modern trainers of the 1960s-2020s + one of Italy's longest-selling aircraft designs. Stelio Frati designed the SF.260 in 1963-1964 at Aviamilano; production transferred to Aermacchi (later Alenia Aermacchi, now Leonardo) in 1968. The prototype first flew on 15 July 1964. About 920+ SF.260s have been built between 1966 and 2024 at Aermacchi + several licensed plants. The aircraft serves ~25 international military operators + private operators worldwide through 2026.

The SF.260 uses a Lycoming O-540-E4A5 6-cylinder air-cooled piston engine (260 hp). Maximum speed 320 km/h, range 1,500 km, service ceiling 5,800 m. Armament (light attack variants): up to 300 kg of bombs / rockets / drop tanks on 2 underwing pylons + optional 7.62 mm gun pods. Crew: 2 (instructor + student in side-by-side cockpit) or 1 (light attack solo). The aircraft is one of few modern trainers + light attack designs that can perform unlimited aerobatics (loops, rolls, spins, inverted flight) — making it valuable for both military pilot training + civilian aerobatic competition.

SF.260 service is global. Major military operators include Italian Air Force (initially 4°SR for modern trainer; ~75 airframes), Belgian Air Force (~36), Burmese Air Force (~70), Burkina Faso (~12), Bolivian Air Force (~50), Ethiopian Air Force (~30), Filipino Air Force (~24), Singaporean Air Force (~32), Tunisian Air Force (~21), Venezuelan Air Force (~12), Zimbabwean Air Force (~22), and many others. Aermacchi SF.260 continues production through 2024 — about 700+ remain in active service worldwide.