Israeli Air Force starts jet training with M-346
Israeli Air Force (IAF) flight school cadets have commenced flights with the new Aermacchi M-346 instructional aircraft for the first time, the air force announced on 20 January.
The new aircraft has replaced the old IAF Skyhawk and will enable the IAF to operate one of the most advanced training programmes in the world. Alenia Aermacchi was contracted by the Israeli MoD in 2012 to deliver 30 M-346 advanced jet trainer aircraft.
Captain Alon, commander of the first class to fly on the new M-346, said: ‘This is a historical and exciting event. The M-346 holds advanced capabilities similar to those of the F-15 and F-16, and will better prepare the pilot cadets for their work in the squadrons.’
The Skyhawk served the pilot cadets for 40 years and the M-346 is expected to last much longer.
Alon said: ‘As long as the IAF carries out manned flights, the M-346 will continue to be used.’
During the past weeks, the pilot cadets underwent intensive training in the M-346 flight simulators in order to adjust to the new plane that they would soon be flying.
Alon added: ‘The cadets prepared for the sorties and for two weeks studied every system in the plane. The systems of the Skyhawk, in comparison, required only two days of studying.’
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