The Italian Air Pressure has inducted the Leonardo M-345 coach plane into its fleet, strengthening its place in army pilot coaching.
Designated as T-345A, this plane replaces the MB-339 (T-339A) in service with the 61st Wing positioned at Galatina (LE). The MB-339 has a historical past of over 4 a long time in instructing each Italian and worldwide army pilots and is recognised for its participation with the Nationwide Aerobatic Staff, which can quickly transition to utilizing Leonardo’s M-346.
The M-345 builds on the legacy of profitable predecessors just like the SIAI-Marchetti SF-260, Aermacchi MB-326, and Aermacchi MB-339.
With the mixing of the M-345 into its coaching curriculum, the Italian Air Pressure now claims one among Europe’s most up to date fixed-wing army coaching techniques.
The plane facilitates each fundamental and superior levels (Phases II and III) of pilot instruction.
It options superior digital avionics and human-machine interface, together with three color touch-screen multi-function shows (MFDs) and a head-up show (HUD), delivering an attractive flight expertise.
The plane’s cockpit options stepped tandem seating and Fingers On Throttle-And-Stick (HOTAS) controls enabling pilots to function the plane with out disengaging from the first controls.
The M-345 comes with a Williams FJ44-4M-34 turbofan engine that’s designed for army purposes and an built-in monitoring system, which Leonardo claims reduces upkeep instances.
As well as, the M-345 Built-in Coaching System consists of each a contemporary plane and a set of floor primarily based coaching techniques.
The M-345, together with the M-346, had been each conceived, engineered, and produced by Leonardo at its facility in Venegono Superiore (Varese, Italy).
“The Leonardo M-345 and M-346 built-in techniques supply a seamless coaching path that ensures a clean transition via the completely different coaching phases, enhancing general coaching programme effectiveness,” Leonardo in an announcement stated.
In November 2024, Piaggio Aerospace delivered the first three of the 15 brand-new P.180 Avanti EVO+ aircraft to the Italian Air Pressure as a part of a fleet modernisation programme.
