FA-50 reaches 100,000-hour accident-free milestone

Pilots and mechanics of the Republic of Korea Air Force 8th Fighter Wing celebrate at an air base in Wonju, Gangwon Province, Thursday, after the Air Force's FA-50 light attackers logged a combined 100,000 hours of flights without accident. Courtesy of Republic of Korea Air Force

The FA-50 light attackers have achieved a combined 100,000 accident-free hours of flights since first taking flight back in 2013, the Air Force said, Friday. The Korean Air Force has been operating 60 FA-50s.

The milestone came after an FA-50 operated by the 8th Fighter Wing in Wonju, Gangwon Province, successfully completed a flight Thursday. The 16th Fighter Wing in Yecheon County, North Gyeongsang Province, also operates the aircraft.

The combined flight distance of the fleet reached 55 million kilometers over the past decade, about 140 times the distance between Earth and the Moon, the Air Force added.

The FA-50 is a variant of Korea Aerospace Industries’ T-50 supersonic trainer jet, co-developed with Lockheed Martin using some of the U.S. firm's technology, including the avionics system and engine.

Last year, Poland signed a deal to purchase 48 FA-50s, while Malaysia also inked a contract to import 18 of the aircraft.

The FA-50 has also been exported to Iraq, the Philippines and Thailand.

“This 100,000-hour accident-free flight record reflects the hard work and sweat of the FA-50 pilots and mechanics,” said Maj. Kim Nam-young, who piloted the record-setting FA-50.

“I will do my best to protect our airspace with special pride in flying a fighter jet made with our own technology.”

Chief Master Sgt. Cho Suk Hee of the 8th Fighter Wing, who maintains FA-50s, also said, “We will inspect and maintain the FA-50 aircraft more closely so that they can take off and land safely."