Taiwan’s New Advanced Jet Trainer Takes to Skies

Taiwan conducted the maiden flight of its new AT-5 Yung Yin (Brave Eagle) advanced jet training aircraft today.

The jet, bearing serial number 11001/08-9001, took off from Ching Chuan Kang Air Base around 9 a.m. accompanied by two F-CK-1D Ching-Kuo fighters. It kept its landing gear down the entire flight before landing successfully, according to Scramble Magazine.

The three-day tests being conducted by the Air Force comes before the official test flight scheduled to take place on June 22.

Taiwan’s Air Force has previously said the aircraft has already cleared the required pre-flight dynamic and static tests, enabling the test flight to be conducted sometime later this month.

The new dual engined aircraft, was first spotted on 2 June at Ching Chuan Kang AFB performing taxi tests. Manufacturer Aerospace Industrial Development Corp (AIDC) plans to deliver 66 AT-5s to the Air Force by 2026 to replace the aging AT-3s.