Rub elbows with Mach 1.

Alenia Aermacchi's second prototype of its M-346 advanced trainer recently had a few brushes with the sound barrier, thanks to its new flight control software package. During flight tests in December 2006 the aircraft attained a speed of 0.96 Mach, a considerable increase to its earlier limit of 0.85 Mach.

Alenia also reports that an optimisation of the leading edge deflection has improved the aircraft's high angle-of-attack performance. Alenia Aermacchi is busy building the first pre-production M-346 at its Venegono plant with its first flight scheduled for late 2007. The M-346 is capable of simulating the cockpit and performance of the Eurofighter, Gripen, Rafale, F-16, F-22 and JSF.