C4M Kudu • wp.archivoaereo.com

The South African “Atlas Aircraft Corporation” was absorbed by the “Armscor” concern in 1969, and from 1992, it was known as “Atlas Aviation (Pty) Ltd,” a division of “Denel (Pty) Ltd.” In November 1996, the company was renamed “Denel Aviation.” This corporation claims the C4M Kudu aircraft was entirely developed in South Africa.

However, its design clearly shows a connection to the earlier Italian Aeritalia/Aermacchi AM-3C aircraft. The six-cylinder Piaggio (Textron Lycoming) GSO-480-B1B3 piston engine for the Kudu was built under license in Italy, further highlighting this international link.

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Versatile Design and Capabilities

The Kudu aircraft was a military variant of the C4M, primarily intended for general-purpose transport tasks. It featured a smaller cockpit glazing area than the AM-3C, accommodating a two-person crew, and a cabin capable of holding four to six equipped soldiers, passengers, or up to 560 kg of cargo.

For loading, a double door was provided on the left side; for paratroopers, a sliding door was equipped on the right side. Other military applications included equipment drops and aerial patrolling and observation, for which a 0.35 sq. m trapdoor in the fuselage floor could be used for dropping cargo or as a camera hatch. The Kudu could also be employed as an air ambulance.

Development and Service History

The first experimental (civilian) C4M variant made its maiden flight on February 16, 1974, followed by the military prototype on June 18, 1975. The aircraft was adopted by the South African Air Force (SAAF) in 1976. More than 40 aircraft were built before series production ended in the early 1980s. The last aircraft of this type were withdrawn from service in the early 1990s.

Technical Specifications

Modification	C4M
Wingspan, m	13.08
Aircraft length, m	9.31
Aircraft height, m	3.66
Wing area, m2	20.97
Empty weight	1230
Maximum takeoff weight	2040
Fuel, kg	432
Engine type	1 Piston engine Piaggio (Textron Lycoming) GSO-480-B1B3
Power, hp	1 x 340
Maximum speed, km/h	305
Cruising speed, km/h	233
Ferry range, km	1297
Operational range, km	741
Service ceiling, m	4270
Crew	1-2 crew
Payload	6 passengers or 560 kg of cargo in cabin