Golden Eagles Land

Korea Aerospace Industries, or KAI, delivered the first two production T-50 Golden Eagle advanced jet trainer aircraft to the Republic of Korea Air Force on schedule in December. Eleven check flights were completed before the aircraft were accepted, five sorties by KAI pilots and six sorties by ROKAF flyers. The ROKAF will use the first T-50 aircraft for initial instructor pilot training before employing it as an advanced jet trainer for student pilots. In addition to these two aircraft, KAI will deliver another eight aircraft to the ROKAF in 2006 and one per month after that. KAI is the prime contractor for the program with Lockheed Martin as the principal subcontractor.