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| An FA-50PH Fighter |
The Philippine Air Force (PAF) on Thursday formally commissioned into service the two FA-50PH “Fighting Eagle” jet aircraft which arrived at Clark Field, Angeles City, Pampanga last December 1.
These aircraft, with tail numbers 003 and 004, are the third and fourth FA-50PHs out of the 12-plane order from Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) worth PHP18.9 billion.
Commissioning and turnover ceremonies took place at Villamor Air Base, Pasay City.
“Prior the formal acceptance and blessing ceremony, the aircraft undergone acceptance flight for three days by the end-user test pilot with the presence of the Technical Inspection Acceptance Committee teams,” PAF spokesperson Col. Antonio Francisco said.
Present during the ceremonies was Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana.
Last Dec. 1, FA-50PH with tail number 003 landed at 11:41 a.m. while its wingmate, 004, arrived 11:42 a.m.
The two jet fighters left Kaohsiung, Taiwan around 10:10 a.m. They were intercepted by FA-50PHs 001 and 002 while they were flying over Pangasinan.
Francisco said the two new FA-50PHs left the KAI plant in Sacheon City, South Korea last Nov. 29 and arrived in Taiwan on the same date.
The remaining eight FA-50PHs are expected to be delivered this coming 2017 and 2018.
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