Manufacturer unveils first production aircraft for South Korea, but confirms plans for more development flights
Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) rolled out the first production T-50 supersonic trainer last week and is preparing to deliver the aircraft to the South Korean air force in mid-October, although flight testing has been extended into early next year.
KAI completed the last of 1,146 sorties required as part of its full-scale development contract on 26 August, but the defence ministry has asked the company to conduct about 200 additional sorties, primarily to further test weapon delivery of the A-50 attack variant. KAI says it is negotiating a modification to its original contract that is expected to extend the test programme until late January, with the company to pay for the extra flights.
The manufacturer, which jointly developed the T-50 with the USA’s Lockheed Martin, is seeking to deliver the first production aircraft after about five extra sorties have been flown. These are needed to fully validate aircraft and engine operational limitations and prove the T-50 is safe for the entire flight envelope.
KAI is trying to convince the air force that the remaining sorties can be flown after delivery because weapon testing is needed only for the A-50, which will not be delivered for four years.
KAI is now aiming to conduct the first of 11 acceptance test flights on the initial production aircraft, originally scheduled for 18 August, on 10 September. If the current schedule holds, the last of the test flights will be completed in mid-October, allowing the aircraft to be delivered before the Seoul air show begins on 18 October.
The air force says it plans to begin using the T-50 at Kwangju airbase in 2007. The service had planned to begin flight training for the first batch of instructor pilots this month, but this is likely to be delayed because the two A-50 prototypes are needed for the extended flight test programme. One of the two T-50 prototypes and the first production aircraft are scheduled to be demonstrated at the Seoul air show and then be disassembled for shipment ahead of November’s Dubai air show.
The United Arab Emirates is one of four near-term export candidates for the T-50, along with Greece, Israel and Singapore. KAI says it is now negotiating with vendors in an effort to reduce the aircraft’s price and make it more attractive to potential buyers.
“We are actively marketing it in Europe, the Middle East and other parts of the world,” says KAI chief executive Hae Joo Chung.
South Korea ordered 25 T-50s in December 2003, and KAI expects to receive a follow-on contract next March for 25 more T-50s and 22 A-50 lead-in fighter trainers.
BRENDAN SOBIE/SACHEON
Source: Flight International
