Vanguard Magazine

44 APRIL/MAY 2019 www.vanguardcanada.com JeT TRAInIng vS TuRboPRoPS leonardo launches The TuTor ii jeT Trainer aircrafT By luCA lA CAVerA teCh ShOWCaSe sponsored Content A s Canada's FAcT, Future Aircrew Training program is gaining momentum, the Aircraft Division of the Italian defence and secu- rity group Leonardo has make clear that its product will be part of the tender. The Leonardo Aircraft Division (LAD) has been a leader in the production of mili- tary training aircraft for over 60 years. It is only natural that Canada's desire to modernize its pilot training syllabus would peak the interest of the company. The Italians firmly believes their integrated so- lution for pilot training will generate real synergies and benefits both in cost savings and efficiencies for the RCAF's Future Aircrew Training (FAcT), Fighter Lead-In Training (FLIT) and the Snowbird Re- placement Project requirements, as it hap- pened already in Poland, Singapore, Israel and Italy itself, that adopted the high tech M-346 jet trainer for their flying schools with great results. Although these are stand-alone proj- ects, the continuum that Leonardo has designed into its system of systems for the above mentioned air forces has the poten- tial to do the same for the RCAF. The company is offering the Aermacchi M-345 Tutor II basic jet trainer for FAcT and the M-346 Advanced/Lead-In Fight- er Trainer for FLIT program, the ad- vanced/Lead-in Fighter Training project to replace, in a more distant future, the BAE Systems Hawk in service in Canada. They share a common Ground Based Training System and can both be equipped with Embedded Tactical Training Systems (ETTS), coupled with Live Virtual Con- structive (LVC) system and real time data links. Moreover, the M-345 Tutor II, with its sleek performance, low operating cost and visual appeal, makes it an ideal replace- ment for the ageing CT-114 Tutor aircraft currently used by Canada's Snowbirds aerobatic team. The first pre-series single engine M-345 aircraft made its maiden flight in December 2018. Production is on track for delivery at the beginning of 2020 of the first five of 45 M-345s ordered by the Italian Air Force. These aircraft will be used for basic and ad- vanced training phases at Galatina Air Force Base, in South Italy, and are also destined to replace the legacy MB.339 in the fa- mous Frecce Tricolori aerobatic team. The twin engine, high performance, M-346 is already providing phase IV FLIT training at the co-located Italian Air Force train- ing base and at the International Training School as well as with three other air forces for conversion to high performance fight- ers from the F-16, F-15, Eurofighter to the F-35 Lightning II. The simple, single engine, low cost M-345 Tutor II has been designed for a jet training ab-initio syllabus (i.e. jet also for the Basic phase) and to upset the cur- rent turboprop-to-FLIT training model since it offers jet performance at a similar price point with that of an advanced tur- boprop trainer. With a new generation en- gine and technologically advanced avionics and systems, the aircraft offers a competi- tive alternative to high power, turboprop trainers that have been the only option for many air forces. The M-345 Tutor II offers 18% higher maximum level speed compared to high-end turboprop trainers, 23% higher rate of climb, and 20% higher sustained load factor at sea level. Thus, the M-345 jet trainer provides the RCAF with a cost-efficient solution for both basic and advanced flying trainer (AFT) – as the Tutor I fulfilled that role prior to the entry of turboprop trainers. Furthermore, the commonality of the M-346 as a po- tential Future Lead-In Trainer (FLIT) aircraft would bring tremendous benefits and efficiencies in logistics, sparing and maintenance support. Uniquely, the M- 345/M-346 combination offers the RCAF the ability to seamlessly download training from higher cost, more expensive platforms onto a cost-efficient platform without sacri- ficing performance. Leonardo also offers a proven and ef- fective ETTS as well as technologically advanced training capability through an LVC environment that provides substantial flexibility in downloading requisite training from higher cost platforms. With all aspects of advanced learning in one interconnected flight training environment, both initial and lifecycle costs are reduced significantly. The M-345 Tutor II has been carefully designed by LAD with a FAcT training fo- cus in mind. The aircraft offers true value for money through the training benefit of jet performance and an expanded flight envelope that optimizes cognitive devel- opment and handling proficiency. This, in turn, ensures greater training effectiveness per flight hour which equals important cost savings to both the RCAF and qualified suppliers. An integrated training solution is key to the production of capable, con- fident, leading-edge military pilots fully prepared to meet the demands of the next phase of training. Undoubtedly, the M-345 Tutor II is a firm contender for the next RCAF basic and advanced training aircraft. luca la Cavera is a full-time aeronautical engineer and a professional photographer, producing high quality pictures for aero- space and naval aviation. His work was pub- lished in specialized magazines in Italy, US, UK and Japan. Back to the future

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