On the eve of the delivery of the first two T-346A to the Italian Air Force, launch customer for the type, publishers released two different books covering the advanced trainer designed to prepare pilots for fourth and fifth generation combat aircraft. This unusual dual publication further confirms the expectations that surround the type even before its entry into service. The books were launched at Villa Recalcati, the seat of the Province of Varese, in the presence of Finmeccanica chairman Pier Francesco Guarguaglini, and of the Aeronautics Sector leadership, including CEO Giuseppe Giordo.
The two books are very different and complement each other. One, written by Marco Sotgiu, is titled M-346. Biografia di un aereo (M-346. Biography of an Aircraft) and describes in Italian its origins, development and prospectives through a long narrative based on interviews with key program staff. The other, M-346 Flying Dreams, is a portfolio of spectacular, largely air-to-air photos, by some of the leading international aviation photographers. These are woven together by Gregory Alegi, whose text explores in both Italian and English the proud Alenia Aermacchi dream of building a complete aircraft.