U.S. pilots to test South Korea's T-50 jets

SEOUL, Nov. 10 (Yonhap) -- A group of U.S. Navy pilots will test fly South
Korea's indigenous supersonic T-50 training jet this week, the Air Force said
Monday, an event expected to help promote Seoul's efforts to export the high-tech
aircraft.
The group consists of one instructor, Marine Lt. Col. Roger Cordell, and three
trainees from the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School, it said. They will conduct a
total of eight test flights of the T-50 from Monday through Friday.
The test flights are part of an exchange program that will also allow a group of
South Korean pilots to test fly the U.S. Navy's own training aircraft next year,
it said.
The event is expected to significantly boost Seoul's efforts to export the
aircraft, whose attack variant A-50 is also being developed for both domestic use
and export.
"The test flight of the T-50 by pilots from the U.S. Navy Test Pilot School means
the superiority of the T-50 jet and the South Korean Air Force's advanced
training program has been recognized by the U.S. Navy," the Air Force said in a
press release.
The U.S. test pilots are expected to produce an evaluation report of the T-50
following their test flights.
bdk@yna.co.kr
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