2 more FA-50PH supersonic jet aircraft to arrive Dec. 1

From the Philippine News Agency (Nov 29): 2 more FA-50PH supersonic jet aircraft to arrive Dec. 1

Two more FA-50PHs "Fighting Eagle" jet aircraft is scheduled to arrive at Clark Field, Angeles City, Pampanga on Dec. 1, raising the number of the Mach 1.5 capable aircraft of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) to four.

This was disclosed by PAF commander Lt. Gen. Edgar Fallorina during the sidelights of the Department of National Defense's 77th founding anniversary Tuesday.

He added the South Korean-made jet aircraft will be arriving 10 a.m. Thursday.

Fallorina said the two new FA-50PHs will be escorted on their way to Clark Field by the first two "Fighting Eagle" in PAF service.

The PAF chief, who got a chance to ride the FA-50PH's backseat last Nov. 26, described the aircraft as "very capable" and brings "pride to every fighter pilot".

"It (feels) great to secure a country with a fighter aircraft (like the FA-50PH)," he added.

As this develops, Fallorina said there are currently nine Filipino pilots fully trained to fly the FA-50PHs.

Three of these are instructor pilots and the remaining six are operational ones.

The PAF has 12-plane order from Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) worth PHP18.9 billion.

The remaining eight FA-50PHs are expected to be delivered this coming 2017 and 2018.

The FA-50PHs has a top speed of Mach 1.5 or one and a half times the speed of sound and is capable of being fitted air-to-air missiles, including the AIM-9 "Sidewinder" air-to-air and heat-seeking missiles aside from light automatic cannons.

It will act as the country's interim fighter until the Philippines get enough experience of operating fast jet assets and money to fund the acquisition of more capable fighter aircraft.

The FA-50PH design is largely derived from the F-16 "Fighting Falcon", and they have many similarities: use of a single engine, speed, size, cost, and the range of weapons.

KAI's previous engineering experience in license-producing the KF-16 was a starting point for the development of the FA-50PHs.

The aircraft can carry two pilots in tandem seating. The high-mounted canopy is applied with stretched acrylic, providing the pilots with good visibility, and has been tested to offer the canopy with ballistic protection against four-pound objects impacting at 400 knots.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=944229