KAI, Lockheed Martin highlight progress on T-50

Officials from Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) and Lockheed Martin Aeronautics have been talking at the Farnborough Air Show in England about the progress of the T-50 advanced trainer being developed by the two aerospace companies.

Lockheed Martin is the principal subcontractor to KAI, the prime contractor for the international T-50 Golden Eagle team

The T-50's first flight is expected in August. The plane was rolled out in September and has been undergoing extensive ground systems checkouts. Three other aircraft will join the flight test programme that will continue through 2005. The second aircraft is undergoing checkout and is expected to begin flying late this year.

In addition, two structural ground test vehicles have been built. Static structural testing began on the first aircraft in January, and durability testing on the second is scheduled to begin at the end of this month. All structural and flight testing is being conducted at government facilities in Korea.

The T-50 is the only supersonic advanced jet trainer in development. It will have a new aerodynamic/structural design and subsystems that approximate to advanced fighters. Subsystems include the latest version of the General Electric F404 engine, a full-authority digital flight control system, a highly integrated colour cockpit, and the latest avionics and processors.

"We think there is a large global market for T-50 advanced jet trainers and derivatives," said Robie D. Notestine, Lockheed Martin's senior marketing director of T-50 International. "We see a need for a supersonic advanced jet trainer that will prepare pilots to fly both today's and tomorrow's advanced fighters. The Golden Eagle is the only aircraft in this class in development and is likely to be the only one available in production in the second half of this decade.

We also intend to develop a world class training system, complete with pilot training simulators and courseware."

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