T-X candidate M-345, flies - Curt Lewis

Advanced M-345 jet trainer makes maiden flight

Seen at the Paris Airshow in 2013, the M-345 has been enhanced with the HET-variant that is billed as being a low-cost trainer and operational platform. Source: IHS/Patrick Allen
The first flight of the Alenia Aermacchi M-345 High Efficiency Trainer (HET) took place on 29 December, Leonardo-Finmeccanica announced.

The milestone for the twin-seat single-engined jet trainer took place out of Venegono Superiore airfield in Varese, northern Italy, and lasted for approximately 30 minutes. Further flight trials will be conducted through 2017.

First revealed in 2013, the M-345 HET is a development of the baseline M-345 jet trainer, which was a redesignation of the Aermacchi M-311 (itself an upgrading of the Aermacchi S-211 jet trainer). The aircraft has been designed to provide basic through to intermediate pilot training at reduced costs, and can be utilised in an operational capacity also.

Company-released specifications give it a top speed of 420 kt at 20,000 ft; a stall speed of 88 kt; a rate-of-climb of 5,200 ft/min; a service ceiling of 40,000 ft; a sustained load factor of +4 g ; a fuel consumption (average) of 380 litre/hr; a maximum range of 760 n miles (clean) or 1,000 n miles (with external tanks); an endurance of 2.75 hours (clean) or 3.85 hours (external tanks); and a take-off run and landing roll of 520 m.

Italy has committed itself to procuring the M-345 HET, and Leonardo-Finmeccanica has signed a memorandum of understanding with Chile. The company has offered the M-345 to France also.