Airborne Evaluation of the Leonardo M-346 Advanced Jet Trainer

On Wednesday 22nd October, International Test Pilots School CEO Dave Lohse was offered the unique opportunity to conduct an airborne evaluation of the Leonardo M-346 Advanced Jet Trainer. The flight took place in the circuit and airspace to the North of Ottawa International Airport.

According to Dave, ‘The M-346 is an amazingly capable Advanced Jet Trainer. From a Performance and Handling Qualities perspective, the M-346 offers similar performance and Thrust to Weight Ratio to a 4th Generation fighter. The fly-by-wire Digital Flight Control System provides carefree handling in a modern cockpit environment. The rear-seat cockpit, with its own Heads-Up Display (HUD), ensures a high degree of situational awareness and excellent forward field of view for the Instructor Pilot occupying the rear seat.

From an Avionics perspective, the aircraft comprises the airborne component of a truly integrated training system comprising Live/Virtual/Constructive connectivity, linking the aircraft fleet to ground-based simulators in real-time, and featuring an Embedded Tactical Training System (ETTS). ETTS provides the fighter pilot student with exposure to realistic and progressively more challenging tactical scenarios, utilizing Hands On Throttle and Stick HOTAS) integration to expose the next generation of tactical experts from allied air forces to the skills and mindset required to fight and win.

I’m excited to closely monitor the development of the Block 20 Variant of the M-346, designed from the outset to provide a true 5th Generation training pipeline to worldwide Air Forces and organizations.’

Many thanks to the Leonardo team – Tommaso Pani, Massimo L., Carmine Russo and Francesco Norante for providing this truly unique opportunity!