new italian trainer Aermacchi M 346 (pics&videos)

[easyand]

new advanced training plane from Aermacchi

First flight video (very nice)
http://www.aermacchi.it/images/Aermacchi%20M346%20First%20Flight.WMV

first ground engine run
http://www.aermacchi.it/Aircraft/M-346/M346_EngineRuns.wmv


http://www.aermacchi.it/Company/Gallery/Img/M-346/M346_2.jpg

http://www.aermacchi.it/Company/Gallery/Img/M-346/M346_3.jpg

http://www.analisidifesa.it/immagini_articoli/5937.jpg

http://www.analisidifesa.it/immagini_articoli/6161.jpg

http://www.analisidifesa.it/immagini_articoli/6162.jpg

[Hullebullen]

Looks a bit like an Alphajet...

[perdurabo]

Looks a bit like an Alphajet...
no it dosent :) it looks more like baby F18 :lol:
M346 comes from Yak-130 almoust the same frame (russian is pretier IMO) diffrent engines and electronics and few other minor things

[easyand]

Yak 130 was an italian-russian joint project

[Roktiken]

I would go as far as to say it's a near knockoff of the Su-25.

But it has more similaraties to the Alphajet.

[flickme]

no it dosent it looks more like baby F18
thats what i was thinkin.

[easyand]

VENEGONO, Italy --- The collaboration between the Experimental Flight Centre of the Italian Air Force and Aermacchi has been strengthened in view of the type certification of the new advanced trainer M-346. The fourth flight of the aircraft marked the beginning of a joint flight test activity.

This happened less than two weeks after the maiden flight, testifying the maturity of the aircraft, due to its accurate design and the intensive ground tests conducted over the last few months.

In its fourth test flight, the M-346 was flown by Col. Eugenio Lupinacci, chief of the IAF Experimental Flight Wing of Pratica di Mare, and by Olinto Cecconello, Aermacchi Experimental Chief Test Pilot.

The flight, which lasted for about one hour, explored the flight envelope up to the maximum angle of attack presently feasible for the prototype. It also verified the lateral controllability of the aircraft and some approaching and landing manoeuvres in various conditions.

After the flight, Col. Lupinacci claimed: “My first impression was of an extremely user-friendly environment and flight control system, which I got immediately comfortable with.”

He also said that making the aircraft available to an external pilot, less than two weeks after the first flight, witnesses the maturity of the programme and the careful design and preparatory work carried on the aircraft.

The Chief of the Italian Air Force, Gen. Sandro Ferracuti, expressed its acknowledgment for this positive achievement, underlying “the great interest of the programme and the effective contribution of the IAF Experimental Flight Centre”.

The Aermacchi M-346 next-generation advanced/lift military trainer flew for the first time on Thursday, July 15, 2004. The aircraft took off from the Venegono airfield in Italy at 8,30 hours local time (7,30 GMT) and returned at 9,25 (8,25 GMT). The flight was controlled in real time by Aermacchi flight test team operating from the company telemetry facilities.

The maiden flight pilot was Olinto Cecconello, Aermacchi Experimental Chief Test Pilot. The M-346 was chased by two Aermacchi's MB-339CD aircraft, piloted by Capt. Alessandro Sciaburri of the Italian Air Force Flight Test Centre and by Maurizio Cheli, Alenia Aeronautica's Chief Test Pilot for combat aircraft.

The pilot's comments on the flight characteristics were very positive: “The M-346 confirmed its high thrust to weight ratio, outstanding field performance with a take-off run of 400 m and a landing distance of 520 m. The digital Flight Control System allowed smooth and precise manoeuvres”.

This first flight sets a key milestone in the development effort performed by the M-346 Integrated Product Team led by Massimo Lucchesini, M-346 Programme Director, and marks the beginning of a comprehensive flying test campaign consisting in 700 flights based on three instrumented aircraft for full flight envelope assessment and for Type Certification.


Background information

The M-346 Programme was launched by Aermacchi in early 2000, after a phase of in-depth studies, market surveys and benchmarking.

In order to optimise the training effectiveness and the life cycle cost, the aircraft combines the latest “design-to-cost”, “supportability” and “lean manufacturing” concepts with performance, handling qualities and man-machine interface fully representative of the latest front line fighters generation, as Eurofighter, F-35 and Rafale.

The M-346 integrates technologies, systems and competencies of several Finmeccanica companies.

The aircraft exploits non-conventional features and advanced technologies: vortex lift aerodynamics with full authority care-free handling digital Fly-by-Wire Control System by BAE Systems/Teleavio, allowing full controllability up to 40° degrees angle of attack.

The two Honeywell/Avio F-124 turbofans provide the M-346 with a 1 to 1 thrust to weight ratio and optimum energy management capabilities.

The M-346 has state-of-the-art modular avionics and it is equipped with a glass-cockpit/mission computer by Galileo Avionica, a Laser Gyro GPS embedded inertial navigation system by Honeywell, HOTAS (Hands On Throttle And Stick), control, stores management system, collision avoidance and embedded simulation.

[easyand]

Dimensions
Length 11,49 m
Height 4,76 m
Span 9,72 m
Wing area 23,52 sq m

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Weights
Empty weight : 4625 kg
Max. weapons load: 3000 kg
Max. fuel: 2000 kg internal plus 1350 kg external in three tanks under the wings and the fuselage
Normal take-off weight, training: 6700 kg
Max. take-off weight, with weapons: 9500 kg

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Performance
Max. level speed 983 km/h (585 KTAS), Mach 0.92 at 5000 ft
Limit Mach number 1.2
Stall speed 167 km/h (90 KCAS)
Max climb rate 20000 ft/min (101 m/s)
Service ceiling 13715 m (45000 ft)
Take-off ground run 300 m
Landing ground roll 590 m
Range 1890 km (1020 NM)
Ferry range: 2540 km (1370 NM) with two drop tanks

[Viktor_s]

Yak 130 was an italian-russian joint project

Edit: So why did Italians went for their own plane?

[seruriermarshal]

Great italian , thanks for this post .

woot

[Midav]

Beautiful looking aircraft!

Now, is it just me, or are the more modern military trainers from various countries looking more and more alike?

[Abbyy]

Yak 130 was an italian-russian joint project

Edit: So why did Italians went for their own plane?

Russian governoment decided to sell Russian part of technical documentation to Italia for his project to pay its debts to Italia.

So technically speaking it is Yak-130 for 80-90%

[GazB]

The Yak-130 and M-346 have some impressive capabilities for sure.

As a lead in fighter trainer one of the most useful features is the flight control system which is fully digital and programable and can be programmed to simulate many different types of aircraft from fighters to bombers and transports. Equally failures can be simulated too to test the trainee in a situation where an instructor can assist for dangerous situations if necessary. An interesting idea has been put forward to arm these light jet trainers with BVR missiles like R-77 or AMRAAM so that half a dozen cheap light fighters could fly with a more capable aircraft with the more capable aircraft (say a Mirage 2000 or an F-16 or Gripen) using its superior radar to detect targets and the light fighters using their small size to get close to the targets and launching their missiles based on information from the parent aircraft. A huge force multiplier which reduces the number of big heavy fighters needed while not reducing the firepower... indeed if the large aircraft is shot down the remaining fighters could cooperate with AWACs or ground radar or other fighter assets and still perform roles.

[OB Kenobi]

Original Yak-130 with weapons:

http://www.hrvatski-vojnik.hr/hrvatski-vojnik/832002/83_bpictures/Yak-130.jpg
http://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/yak_130/images/Yak130_2.jpg

Seems like a nice ground attack plane, or a BVR missile platform as mentioned. The compact size is something many countries may be interested in.

[lekomin]

Yak 130 was an italian-russian joint project

no it was not.. Yak130 was already almost a finished article when the Italians came along. The Russians needed "some" help with modern manufacturing and avionics.. The endgame was, that the Italians got blueprints for the whole aircraft.. It was probably the best investment ever made.. whole plane for 10 milion dollars or so ;)

Italians took the blueprints, merged the outer shell (Russians were always very good at aerodynamics.. look at Su27 ;) with modern materials, manufacturing technology and avionics (the part the West is best at).. as a result you have a killer machine. Currently you have two next generation training aircraft.. T-50 from South Korea and this new Italian baby. Hawk is a little old and no amount of modern avionics will replace the old fashioned aerodynamics.. European (read: German) MAKO has no future.. In my opinion T-50 will take the supersonic part of the market and Italians the subsonic part.. Anyway, a very good job on the part of Italians. As for the Russians: Think twice before giving away your blueprints ;)
take care
lekomin inc