M-346 gets lighter, faster, more agile | Aviation International News

M-346 gets lighter, faster, more agile

While the first two prototypes of the Alenia Aermacchi M-346 lead-in fighter trainer are engaged in a development program, a third is taking shape at the I

By Paolo Valpolini

November 7, 2007

While the first two prototypes of the Alenia Aermacchi M-346 lead-in fighter trainer are engaged in a development program, a third is taking shape at the Italian manufacturer’s Venegono facility. It incorporates some differences from the two existing aircraft, having benefited from test and evaluation programs Alenia Aermacchi conducted with air force pilots from various countries.

The M-346 was tested by pilots from Singapore, Poland, France, Greece, Italy and the United Arab Emirates, where the aircraft was down-selected last February and where it carried out an operational evaluation in July and August. These tests took place in temperatures close to 122-deg F in the shade and involved nine UAE pilots, one Alenia Aermacchi test pilot and two Italian air force experimental wing pilots, who flew the aircraft in 43 missions logging about 50 flight hours.

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