Aermacchi

The first M-346 advanced trainer in the industrial pre-series configuration made its official first flight yesterday, flown by Alenia Aermacchi Chief Test Pilot Olinto Cecconello. The aircraft, identified as LRIP00, took off at 19.15 from the Venegono facilities of Alenia Aermacchi, a Finmeccanica group company.

Upon landing, Captain Cecconello expressed his satisfaction about the aircraft. «Compared to the two M-346 prototypes, the flying controls of LRIP00 are even more representative of a fifth-generation aircraft. This gem will offer a 20% performance improvement over the two prototypes, mainly due to the lower weight and the related ability to carry additional fuel, the improved outward visibility and the optimized pilot/aircraft dialogue, in part through an electronic check-list."

The first pre-series M-346 simultaneously bears witness to and reinforces the great maturity of the program that - thanks to the intensive development work performed on the two prototypes - has led to the optimization and industrialization of the design. The first flight marks the beginning of the production phase of the M-346 programme, which will see the introduction of an extremely advanced production line designed by Alenia Aermacchi based on the digital manufacturing process.

The design effort for the baseline industrial configuration aircraft has concentrated on structural optimisation, with additional benefits in terms of improved maintenance. The goal has been achieved through a different spacing of wing spars and fuselage frames, together with a wider use of composite and titanium parts. Together with the integration of the new main landing gear and the standardization of general mission systems, this has brought about a considerable reduction in the empty weight, in the order of about 700 kilos. With this flight Alenia Aermacchi has shown the world market the great strength and vitality of the M-346 programme, in accordance with the time schedules announced earlier.

Two M-346 will be soon ferried to the United Kingdom to participate in the Farnborough Air show 2008 where between 14-20 July the pre-series aircraft will be displayed in the static area of the Finmeccanica Pavilion (0E1/2).