Aircraft

By Craig Hoyle at RAF Fairford

Alenia Aermacchi is using the RIAT show to highlight the capabilities of two of its new jet trainer products, with the M-346 taking to the air and the M-311 – freshly arrived in the UK sporting a new black and silver livery – on static display outside the Patron’s Pavilion (pictured below).

The Finmeccanica group company is giving the M-311 the hard sell in the hope of securing the backing of the UK Ministry of Defence ahead of its naming a training system partner for the future Military Flying Training System (MFTS) project around November this year.

Alenia Aermacchi is promoting its M-311 to fill a future training gap below the BAE Systems Hawk 128 advanced jet trainer already selected for delivery to the Royal Air Force from the third quarter of 2008. “We have a dialogue with all three companies [bidding for MFTS] at the moment,” says Finmeccanica UK chief executive Alberto de Benedictis.

Alenia Aermacchi test pilot Quirino Bucci says the company’s M-311 demonstrator has now amassed 150 flight hours in around 140 sorties. The aircraft has a CMC-supplied cockpit with three multi-function displays and a head-up display for the front-seat student. “The aircraft has very good flying qualities,” says Bucci. “Its high power output enables me to fly at 380kt [700km/h] indicated airspeed at sea level, which is 50-60kt faster than our turboprop competitors.”

In addition to the UK, Alenia Aermacchi cites Australia, Chile, Israel and Singapore as potential customers for the M-311. Flight International’s next issue will include an exclusive flight test report on the company’s larger M-346, which will be flying at both Fairford and Farnborough this year.