Aermacchi’s M-346 advanced/lead-in fighter trainer is on show at Le Bourget with a production-configured Honeywell F124-GA-200 turbofan, using new full-authority digital electronic control (FADEC) based on its modular aerospace control (MAC) platform. Built by the International Turbine Engine Corp. as a joint venture between Honeywell and Taiwan’s Aerospace Industrial Development Corp., the FADEC/MAC-equipped F124 first flew in the M-346 on April 11. It is one of five similar engines delivered to Aermacchi for this program, which will receive two more F124 powerplants in 2006. “MAC delivers improved data-flow and redundancy management compared with traditional dual-channel FADECs,” said vp and general manager of engines systems and accessories Nick Stanage. “Using TTP communications protocol, the NAC FADEC provides independence of safety-critical engine functions.”
