Aermacchi

­ Andrew Allen, the NASA Astronaut, piloted the prototype of the Alenia Aermacchi M-346, the new aircraft for the advanced training of military pilots.

The flight took off from Venegono Superiore airport and lasted about 45 minutes with Andrew Allen in the front seat of the cockpit with Com. Olinto Cecconello, Alenia Aermacchi’s Experimental Chief Test Pilot, acting as co-pilot.

After landing, Andrew Allen was very enthusiastic of the M-346 aircraft, in particular, he underlined the flying qualities, the manoeuvrability as well as the man-machine interface. In addition he added that Alenia Aermacchi’s decision to equip the M-346 with 2 engines is the best choice in term of safety for the pilot trainers.

"The M-346, he stated, is very comfortable and easy to fly, thanks to its advanced technical features that place the aircraft among the most advanced Lead-in Fighter Trainer today available on the international market."

Andrew Allen is presently the Vice President of International Fixed Wing Aircraft for Honeywell’s Defence & Space. He is also a graduate of the Marine Weapons and Tactical Instructor Course, the Naval Fighter Weapons School (Top Gun) and the United States Navy Test Pilot School, logging over 6,000 flight hours in more than 30 different aircraft.