The Air Force will conduct flight training for Polish pilots so that they can smoothly operate the FA-50, a domestic light attack aircraft purchased by Poland in Korea.
The Air Force announced on the 22nd that it would hold an induction ceremony for four Polish pilots who will operate the FA-50 at the 1st Fighter Wing and begin related training.
Last year, Poland signed an implementation contract with Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) to purchase 48 FA-50s. Under the contract, the Air Force will train a total of eight Polish pilots on two occasions this year. Four of the first trainees are scheduled until July 21st, and four of the second trainees are scheduled from May 8th to October 13th.
Polish pilots receive 11 weeks of training on overall operation methods, including flight theory and air manipulation, using the T-50, a domestic supersonic advanced trainer, from a South Korean air force pilot instructor assigned individually to the 1st Fighter Wing.
Afterwards, the 16th Fighter Wing will conduct an introductory tactical course to hone practical combat skills such as air-to-air and air-to-ground tactical training through the TA-50, a domestic tactical introductory aircraft, for 11 weeks.
After the introductory course is over, they will move to KAI, ride the FA-50 simulator for one week, complete flight mastery training on the ground, and return to Poland.
“I was very impressed with the amazing maneuverability of the T-50 at the Black Eagles Air Show held at Demblin Air Base in Poland last year,” said Major Jaschek Stolarek, a Polish pilot who is scheduled to receive training. ”he said.
At the same time, he expressed his ambition, “I will learn all the know-how to protect Poland’s airspace through Korea’s excellent flight training system.”
Major Park Joon-hyeong, commander of the 1st Warfare Integrated Education and Training Battalion, who oversees the training, said, “We planned the training with the mindset of exporting an excellent ‘Korean flight training system’ along with domestic aircraft.”
“We will do our best to help Polish pilots adapt to the new aircraft and hone their combat skills so that they can use it to protect Poland’s airspace,” he said.
There are a total of four countries currently operating T-50 family aircraft, including the T-50, TA-50, and FA-50, including Indonesia, Iraq, the Philippines, and Thailand.
Poland, which will be added as an operating country, plans to operate the FA-50PL. The FA-50PL is the first of the FA-50 series to be equipped with an active phased array (AESA) radar and a mid-range air-to-air missile.
Source: Donga
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