Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) announced on the 2nd that it has successfully completed 10,000 hours of accident-free test flights.
Since its founding on Oct. 1, 1999, KAI has developed and produced over 800 fixed-wing aircraft, including the KT-1, T-50, FA-50, and KF-21, while maintaining an accident-free record during 10,000 hours of test flights. The accident-free flight records by aircraft type are approximately 1,350 hours for the KF-21, about 6,350 hours for the T-50 series, around 1,500 hours for the KT-1 series, and about 830 hours for the KC-100.
The record of 10,000 hours accident-free is possible only through organic cooperation across all institutional sectors, including the proficiency of test flight pilots, trust and teamwork with maintenance personnel, flight data analysis, and quality and safety management.
KAI is developing the KF-21 based on the know-how accumulated from previous test flights of the KT-1 and T-50 series aircraft. The target completion date for the system development of the KF-21 is in 2026.
The KF-21 entered the phase of full-scale ground and flight testing as it began the final assembly of the first production unit on the 20th of last month.
Cha Jae-byeong, KAI's institutional sector head, noted, "Achieving this milestone of 10,000 hours of test flight is a significant landmark that can prove the stability and reliability of KAI's aviation technology to the global market."