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Aviation History
2003
2003 - 1466.PDF
M m Technical description lage frames, are machined, says Mantelli. Aermacchi has started testing the M346 on an array of test rigs at its Venegono facility, including an iron bird, avionics, electrical and structural test rigs and a research flight simulator, as well as the three prototype aircraft. Meanwhile, suppliers have also built rigs, including Microtecnica, which has a hydraulic system rig at its Turin plant, while Secondo Mona has a fuel rig at its factory near Venegono. These will be used to clear the systems before first flight and Aermacchi's iron bird will clear the flight- control laws. The iron bird comprises the M346's FCS, hydraulics systems, undercarriage and con trol surface, all linked with pipes and wiring looms matching the size, shape and configuration of those of the aircraft. This allows the systems to be tested on the ground and flight control laws to be evalu ated before the first flight takes place, the iron bird either being flown by a human pilot in a cockpit mock-up or a virtual pilot, the latter principally used for endurance or testing or where precise repeatability is needed. Prototype use Aircraft POl will be used for handling and performance trials, including envelope expansion, high AoA work and FCS prov ing. It will also be used for general systems tests and flutter trials. As well as similar handling and perfor mance work, Aircraft P02 will in addition be the main avionics testbed, including the onboard simulation system. The aircraft will also be used to test the in-flight refu elling system and FCS structural testing. Aircraft three, the first production repre sentative M346, will be used for avionics development, including more work with the embedded simulation system, trials with the definitive main landing gear, radar integration, electronic warfare work and external stores testing. P03 will be the first aircraft with the definitive main landing gear. Liebherr is already supplying the nose gear, and is com peting with APPH and Messier Dowty to supply the main gears. As a risk reduction measure POl and P02 will have main gears from the Alenia/ Aermacchi/Embraer AMX light attack air craft. The winning supplier will provide an integrated design comprising the legs, wheels, brakes and systems. Many of the YA-130 flight trials were performed in Italy because Aermacchi has a tradition of flight testing, whereas Yakovlev is a design bureau and Sokol is a factory, says Trombetta. For the M346 pro gramme, the Italian manufacturer has upgraded its flight-test centre, improving its real-time capability. Flying is to be divided between Venegono and Sardinia. The Italian air force test centre will also participate in the flight-test pro gramme as part of the Italian defence min istry's agreement to certificate the aircraft. Trombetta says around 700 flights are planned, leading to full operational clear ance (FOC) as an advanced trainer. This TRAINER DEMAND will include the onboard simulation and initial weapons trials. Specific weapons will be cleared during additional flight-test pro grammes. Aircraft POl and aircraft P02 will perform the bulk of the trials, each being programmed for 300 sorties. An initial operational clearance is planned for late 2005 as a stepping stone to FOC in 2007. • Market predictions Aermacchi believes there is a poten tial advanced trainer market for 2,300 aircraft over the next 30 years, says Sergio Coniglio, Aermacchi senior marketing executive. Today, he says, there are around 3,400 advanced trainers in service, of which around 65% have been flying for 25 years or longer 'The current trend in replacement is around two for three," says Coniglio, adding that Aermacchi believes it can secure 600-plus orders for the M346. These figures exclude Russia and the CIS, where Aermacchi's agree ment with Yakovlev gives the Russian company a free hand. It does, how ever, include the USA as Aermacchi, like some other trainer manufacturers, does not believe the US Air Force's plan to retain the Northrop T-38 Talon until 2040 is definitive. Coniglio says the peak replacement period is after 2010. Another unknown is the Eurotraining programme. This could reduce the replacement market as 12 European nations will share common assets, but it is also possible that not all current participants will remain with the programme. Another potential market is the countries with lightweight supersonic fighters such as the Mikoyan MiG-21 and its Chinese sister the Chengdu jF-7 in their fleet. Such countries may combine a purchase of advanced trainers and light combat aircraft, says Coniglio. "There is a reduction in the market for advanced trainers, but there is the possibility of this new mar ket to compensate," he adds. AERMACCHI M346 GENERAL ARRANGEMENT Maximum take-off weight Empty weight MMO Ceiling 9,500kg 4,625kg 1.2 45,000ft Take-off weight, clean Sea level thrust Climb speed Take-off run 6,700kg 2 x 6,250lb-thrust 20,000ft/min 300m 100 10-16 JUNE 2003 FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL www.flightinternational.com
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