AJT deliveries on schedule
On 12 December 2023, four AT-5 Yung Ying (Brave Eagle) advanced jet trainer (AJT) were delivered to the 7th Flight Training Wing (FTW) of the Chung-Hua Min Guo Kong Jun (RoCAF, Republic of China Air Force) at Taitung air base.
Although Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation (AIDC) had set the 2023 target of AJT deliveries at seventeen, it was still to be seen if they could manage this. However, during the last four days, AIDC managed to perform high speed taxi tests and test flights for the 'final' four Brave Eagles.
After a small ceremony at the AIDC plant at Taichung/Cingcyuangang airport, the four fighters, serials 1124 to 1127 (12-9026 to 12-9029), departed Taichung at 10:00 hrs LT and landed around 11:00 hrs LT at Taitung/Jhihhang air base. One of the aircraft (1124/12-9026) had the AIDC chairman as the back-seat passenger.
By the end of 2024, it is planned that 33 AT-5s should have been delivered to the 7th FTW and 12 to the Air Force Academy. In total, 66 Brave Eagles AT-5s are expected to be delivered before the end of 2026.
Credit photo: Tsungfang Tsai