AERMACCHI'S MB-339CD TWO-SEAT ADVANCED jet trainer had its first flight on 24 April, marking the start of a test programme aimed at first deliveries of a 15-aircraft order to the Italian air force by the end of 1996. The Italian manufacturer says that "...all on-board systems met design targets" during the 60min flight from its Venegono base. The MB-339CD has new, all-digital, avionics, with a MIL1553 databus. Each cockpit has three colour Sextant liquid-crystal multi-function displays.
Source: Flight International