First Hellenic Air Force Master in full livery

On 3 April 2023, the first of ten ordered Leonardo M346B Master advanced lead-in fighter trainer (LIFT) aircraft was seen flying in its full Elliniki Polemiki Aeroporia (HAF, Hellenic Air Force) livery from its birthplace Varese-Venegono Airport, Italy.

The aircraft, registered CSX55277, made it maiden flight in a primer colour scheme on 30 January and was given the HAF identity 250 when painted in its final overall grey colours.

Five Masters are on the production line (probably line numbers HAF1 through HAF5), and two of them will be delivered in the middle of this year.

Israeli defence contractor Elbit Systems has been awarded the contract for the establishment and operation of the HAF International Flight Training Centre (FTC). The deal, worth approximately USD 1,65 billion (€1,38 billion), was signed on 18 April 2021 and includes the delivery of ten M346B LIFT aircraft that will be operated by the HAF-FTC from Kalamata air base in the Peloponnesus, Greece.

The current LIFT platform, the North American T-2C/E Buckeye will be decommissioned just short of half a century of service. The HAF received their first examples in February 1976.

Photo by Tiziano Capenti/aplace2land.com