Lockheed Martin Corp. and Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) announced today that the second T-50 Golden Eagle advanced jet trainer has successfully completed its initial flight. The 47-minute flight was conducted from KAI's facility at Sachon, South Korea.

Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., a business area of Lockheed Martin Corp., is a major partner in the T-50 program.

"Our flight test program is progressing well," said S.S. Jang, director of KAI's T-50 Development Center. "With this second aircraft, we will be able to increase our sortie rate and accomplish an expanded set of flight test objectives."

The flight on Nov. 8 met all its goals of checking airworthiness, basic systems operation and handling qualities of the aircraft. Test instrumentation and telemetry were also verified. All systems functioned properly with no anomalies.

The test pilot was Lt. Col. Cho, Gwang-Je of the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF), who flew the initial flight in the first T-50. Maximum conditions attained during flight were a calibrated airspeed of 250 knots and an altitude of 15,000 feet.

Assembly of aircraft No. 2 was completed in May, and has been undergoing ground functional checks of the aircraft and instrumentation since. This aircraft will be used to test air loads throughout the T-50 flight envelope, stability and control, high angle-of-attack flight characteristics and stores separation testing.

The second aircraft has the same systems and paint scheme as the first aircraft. The only differences are in the aircraft instrumentation, engine performance instrumentation, provisions for a spin test recovery chute (a high angle-of-attack safety precaution) and a digital camera system for recording release of external stores.

Since the first flight of the T-50 on Aug. 20, the flight test program has accumulated 15 flights and 14.8 flight hours, with the aircraft performing well in all areas. The next major flight test milestone will be to climb to the service ceiling of 40,000 feet. That test is scheduled for early December.

The third flight test aircraft completed final assembly in October and is expected to fly in the first quarter of next year. This aircraft will be in the lead-in fighter trainer (LIFT) configuration. It will include an APG-67 multimode radar, a 20 mm internal cannon and an armament control system.

The T-50 Golden Eagle is a supersonic advanced jet trainer being developed by KAI for the ROKAF. Lockheed Martin, as principal subcontractor to KAI, is providing technical expertise in all aspects of the program and is responsible for developing the T-50 avionics system, flight control system and wings. The two companies are cooperatively marketing the T-50 internationally.

The T-50 Full-Scale Development program began in 1997 and will continue through 2005. Initial production authorization is planned for the third quarter 2003 with production deliveries to begin in 2005.

The T-50 will have the maneuverability, endurance and advanced systems to prepare future pilots to fly current and next-generation fighters like advanced F-16s, the F-22 and the Joint Strike Fighter. These same characteristics give it an excellent capability as a lead-in fighter trainer and potential light-combat aircraft derivative for many air forces.

Korea Aerospace Industries Ltd. is the Republic of Korea's national aerospace company. It was established in 1999 with the consolidation of Samsung Aerospace, Daewoo Heavy Industries and Hyundai Space and Aircraft Co. KAI's lines of business include fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and satellites. Its major products are the KF-16, KT-1 basic trainer, T-50, SB427 helicopters, as well as aerostructures and KOMPSAT satellite program.

Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, is a leader in advanced military aircraft and related technologies. Its customers include the military services of the United States and allied countries throughout the world. Products include the F-16, F-22, F/A-22 JSF, F-117, T-50, C-5, C-130, C-130J, P-3, S-3 and U-2.

Lockheed Martin Corp., headquartered in Bethesda, Md., is a global enterprise principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture and integration of advanced technology systems, products and services. Employing about 125,000 people worldwide, Lockheed Martin had 2001 sales of $24 billion.

Photo and caption can be downloaded at: http://www.lmaeronautics.com/gallery/products/combat_air/t50 after 4 pm central.

For more information on KAI, visit: http://www.koreaaero.com/

For information on Lockheed Martin Corp., visit: http://www.lockheedmartin.com/

For information on Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., visit: http://www.lmaeronautics.com/

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SOURCE: Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company; Korea Aerospace Industries