Falco EVO

The Falco EVO is a composite‑built, two‑seat aerobatic and training aircraft produced by Leonardo S.p.A., the Italian aerospace giant formerly known as Alenia Aermacchi. Its lineage traces back to the original Falco series introduced in the 1990s, which quickly earned a reputation for agile handling and robust performance in both civil and military environments. In 2020 Leonardo launched the EVO variant, incorporating a modern carbon‑fiber airframe, a more powerful 260‑horsepower Lycoming AEIO‑540 engine and a digital glass cockpit with Garmin G3X Touch avionics. Key features include a high‑strength, low‑weight structure that tolerates +10 g and –10 g loads, retractable landing gear, and a full‑range of aerodynamic control surfaces that enable advanced aerobatic manoeuvres as well as efficient cross‑country flight. The aircraft’s modular design allows rapid reconfiguration between training, sport, and light combat roles, making it attractive to flight schools, aero clubs and international air forces. Its significance lies in bridging the gap between traditional piston‑engine trainers and modern jet‑like performance, providing pilots with a cost‑effective platform that embraces contemporary avionics while preserving the classic handling characteristics that have made the Falco a staple of European aviation for more than three decades.