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Lockheed and KAI Link with IAI
Looking to T-50 Aircraft for Israel
T-50 partners Korea Aerospace Industries and Lockheed Martin Aeronautics
have a new MoU with Israeli Aircraft Industries that's likely
to lead to significant sales of the Korean-built jet trainer/attack
aircraft to Israel.
KAI is showing the T-50's advanced new cockpit, with head-up and
multifunction displays and hands-on-throttle-and-stick, at its
display here. The cockpit was unveiled at 2001's Paris Air Show.
The KAI-Lockheed Martin team began static load testing of the
T-50 Golden Eagle at Daejon early this year. The T-50 is billed
as an advanced jet trainer/fighter lead-in/light attack aircraft
which besides its own combat capabilities will be able to prepare
pilots for the latest F-16s and the new F-22 and Joint Strike
Fighter aircraft.
"We are very pleased with the progress of the T-50 development
thus far, and we are continuing our program tradition of meeting
program milestones," said T-50 program director M.K. Chang,
a senior VP at KAI.
"We completed the first aircraft 100 days ahead of schedule
last fall and recently completed the ground vibration testing
and structural coupling testing," Chang said.
The fighting version of the Golden Eagle is designated the A-50.
The T-50 trainer structure has been designed to accommodate the
load requirements of the A-50, including combat maneuvers with
stores.
"This common structure not only reduces development costs
but also benefits logistics support and training costs,"
said Lockheed Martin T-50 program director Charles Smith. The
static loads testing begun in January, he said, "will verify
our design of a very-strong, high-performance aircraft that will
meet the various demands of an advanced jet trainer, a lead-in
fighter trainer, and light combat aircraft derivative."
The first test case involves 77 load application locations, 66
deflection measurements and approximately 2,300 strain measurements.
The T-50 is designed for load limits of +8g/3g.
First flight of the T-50 is expected around mid-year.
By Rich Piellisch
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