S. Korean Air Force's next generation primary trainer makes maiden flight
2015/10/05



SEJONG, Oct. 5 (Yonhap) -- The South Korean Air Force's next generation primary trainer made its maiden flight, the country's sole aircraft manufacturer said Monday.

The KT-100 single-prop plane flew for 80 minutes over Sacheon Airport, 437 kilometers southeast of Seoul, Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) said.

The plane made by KAI and developed with research and development support from the transportation ministry, was tested to see whether it met the military's requirements with revised equipment such as an identification friend or foe system, and video and audio recording devices that will be used to evaluate the trainee pilots.

"Tests are needed because the plane was initially developed for civilian use as the KC-100, so the installation of new equipment needed to be examined so they do not cause problems for the plane's other systems," a company source said. He said the landing gear fairings were also removed because they were not needed.

KAI said that once the KT-100s, which can seat up to four people, are in service with the Air Force Academy, South Korea will be able to train all of its new pilots using planes built in the country.

The country already operates the KT-1 basic trainers, a more powerful turboprop plane, the jet-powered T-50 advanced trainers and the TA-50 lead-in fighter trainer aircraft.

"By using an all-Korean-made plane lineup, the country can save 26 percent of the cost to train its pilots and improve flight training time by 35 percent,"the company claimed. Using locally made planes can reduce the need for the importing of expensive equipment.

KAI said that it won the military contract from the Defense Acquisition Program Administration. The contract calls for the delivery of aircraft, related simulators and support equipment. The last planes are to be delivered by the end of 2016.

The company did not elaborate on how many planes it will deliver, but it is expected to exceed 20 units. At present the Air Force operates 22 Russian-made T-103s made by Ilyushin as its basic trainers for its pilots.

http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/busi...008700320.html

KAI conducts maiden flight of KT-100 ab initio trainer
09 OCTOBER, 2015



Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) has conducted the first flight of its KT-100 aircraft, the ab initio trainer variant of the KC-100 Naraon light aircraft.

The flight took place on 5 October from KAI’s Sacheon factory, and last about one hour and twenty minutes, KAI says in a statement.

The KT-100 variant features a video/voice recorder, identification friend-or-foe equipment, and other modifications.

Seoul will acquire 23 KT-100s, with all aircraft, flight simulators and other equipment to be delivered by the end of 2016. After acquiring basic skills in the KT-100, South Korean trainees will move up to the KT-1 basic trainer, followed by the T-50 advanced jet trainer.

KAI says that using a complete system of indigenous platforms to train new pilots will reduce the number of training hours required by pilots by 35%, and reduce costs by 26%. At present, ab initio training is undertaken with the air force’s fleet of 20 Ilyushin T-103s.

KAI says the advent of the KT-100 will also open export opportunities.

“Via the KT-100 project, KAI can offer its training system to foreign countries as a package,”it says. “[In the case of South Korea], the package prevents South Korea from draining its foreign currency, and KAI can ensure high operation rates via quick flight maintenance support. This will reduce the time needed and cost for training pilots.”

The baseline four-seat KC-100 was first flown in July 2011. It is powered by a single Continental Motors TSIOF-550-K piston engine.

https://www.flightglobal.com/news/ar...o-trai-417580/