Finmeccanica-Alenia Aermacchi completes flight-tests of C-27J battlefield airlifter with new winglets

Finmeccanica-Alenia Aermacchi has completed dedicated flight-testing following the modification to add winglets to the C-27J battlefield airlifter configuration, one of a series of product developments underway on the only real military medium turboprop airlifter on the market. The winglets, which are extensions to the wingtips of the aircraft, have the aim to improve the already very good overall flight performance of the aircraft by increasing the lift-drag ratio and will ever extend the performance gap between the C-27J and its competitors. In-service benefits include improved hot and high runway performance, increased payload, range, endurance and the overall deriving reduction in operating costs. First flight of the “wingletted” aircraft took place with complete success at Finmeccanica-Alenia Aermacchi’s Turin-Caselle facility, Italy, on 15 June.