Aermacchi

An Evaluation Team of the Centre d’Essais en Vol, the official flight test centre of the French Délégation Générale pour l’Armement, carried out a flight evaluation of the Alenia Aermacchi M-346 advanced trainer at Venegono. The evaluation was made in April in the framework of high-level Italian and French bilateral military agreements.

The flight test and simulator training sessions were agreed by CEV and Alenia Aermacchi to evaluate the M-346 in terms of performance, handling, human-machine interface, powerplant system and logistic and maintenance considerations.
The French team was also able to examine the engineering and flight data processing capabilities available at the Alenia Aermacchi flight test centre.

The overall impressions were favourable and underscored the M-346’s reliability and capability in the advanced training mission, both elements already noted by other international delegations.
The acceleration and thrust characteristics, with a thrust/weight ratio close to 1, and the harmonization of the Fly-by-Wire flight controls, which are still under development, were found to be satisfactory in the domain explored.
Additionally, the simple and straightforward approach of the M-346 human-machine interface greatly reduces the time required for pilot type rating.
Some suggestions were received on improving certain operational aspects, which Alenia Aermacchi had earlier identified and which are being optimised.
­The DGA delegation also noted the adequacy and maturity of the M-346 prototypes, which in this stage of development were found to be satisfactory in the framework of advanced and pre-operational training missions. The type was also found to have growth potential both as Lead-In Fighter Trainer (LIFT) and for additional operational roles.