Alenia Aermacchi Announces 1st Flight Of ITAF T-346A | Aero-News Network
Aero-News Network
RSS icon RSS feed
podcast icon MP3 podcast
Subscribe Aero-News e-mail Newsletter Subscribe

Airborne Unlimited -- Most Recent Daily Episodes

Episode Date

Airborne-Monday

Airborne-Tuesday

Airborne-Wednesday Airborne-Thursday

Airborne-Friday

Airborne On YouTube

Airborne-Unlimited-06.02.25

Airborne-NextGen-06.03.25

AirborneUnlimited-06.04.25

Airborne-AffordableFlyers-06.05.25

AirborneUnlimited-06.06.25

Wed, Apr 06, 2011

Alenia Aermacchi Announces 1st Flight Of ITAF T-346A

Trainer Built For The Italian Air Force

The first M-346 aircraft produced for the Italian Air Force (ITAF) had a successful first flight last Thursday. The ITAF has designated the plane as the T-346A.

"The first flight of the T-346A, soon to enter service with our country's Air Force, is an important milestone for the M-346 program, a milestone reached through the dedication of the entire work force of the Venegono plant," said Giuseppe Giordo, CEO of Alenia Aeronautica overseeing the Aeronautics Sector of Finmeccanica Group.

Flown by Chief Test Pilot Quirino Bucci, the aircraft took off at 1600 from Venegono, the home airfield of Alenia Aermacchi, a Finmeccanica company controlled by Alenia Aeronautica. The flight lasted 40 minutes and the T-346A reached a maximum altitude of 15,000 ft., covering the planned flight envelope in terms of speed, angle of attack and load factor. The flight also included manoeuvres to assess aeromechanical handling of the aircraft and systems functionality.

After landing, Captain Bucci expressed appreciation for the aircraft. "Once again, the aircraft demonstrated its excellent characteristics in terms of handling, energy and man-machine interface, all crucial points in training future pilots to fly new generation combat aircraft."

The ITAF T-346A is the first M-346 series production aircraft completed. The Alenia Aermacchi site in Venegono now operates a leading-edge, highly-automated production line capable of delivering up to 48 aircraft per year with competitive cost and high quality in order to meet the highest program requirements. The remaining aircraft for the Italian Air Force are already being built on this new assembly line, and production of the 12 aircraft ordered by the Singapore Air Force are also underway.

Alenia says the Air Forces of several nations have expressed interest in this aircraft, which meets the latest training requirement of the new generation aircraft such as the F-22, F-35 and the Eurofighter.

FMI: www.alenia-aeronautica.it/eng/Pages/Home.aspx

Advertisement

More News

Citation Operators Get Another Flight Data Connection for QA

LinxUs System Adds Capabilities for Data-Driven Operators Textron Aviation announced another option for operators processing their post-flight data, adding interoperability with GE>[...]

ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (06.01.25)

Aero Linx: The de Havilland Moth Club Ltd The de Havilland Moth Club evolved from a belief that an association of owners and operators of Moth aeroplanes should be formed to create>[...]

NTSB Final Report: Bellanca 8GCBC

(Pilot) Inadvertently Applied Excessive Braking Action, And The Airplane Nosed Over Analysis: The pilot reported that, while landing at a remote, rough and uneven airstrip in a tai>[...]

Aero-News: Quote of the Day (06.01.25)

“MCADT is committed to rapidly integrating armed first-person view drones into the FMF, enhancing small-unit lethality and providing organic capabilities that warfighters cur>[...]

Classic Aero-TV: High-Speed Match-up - Venom and GE Rebirth A Legend

From 2017 (YouTube Edition): Major Engine Supplier Joins Forces With Small Aircraft Manufacturer… GE recently made an agreement with Venom Aircraft to supply engines for the>[...]

blog comments powered by Disqus



Advertisement

Advertisement

Podcasts

Advertisement

© 2007 - 2025 Web Development & Design by Pauli Systems, LC