Era

Korean Air Chang-Gong 91

TerryLeave a comment

The Korean Air Chang-Gong 91 (English: Blue Sky 91) is a four-seat single-engined low-wing monoplane designed by the Korea Institute of Aeronautical Technology and built by the Aerospace Division of Korean Air.

Chang-gong-91 (meaning Blue Sky) was the first light plane prototype developed by Korean Air and other collaborative companies as a national policy research project led by the Ministry of Science & Technology.

Three prototypes were developed and the first flight was on 22 November 1991.

Due to low marketability forecast by Korean Air it was not put into production. It is now on static display at the Aviation Pavillion near Jeongseok Airport (RKPD).

Engine: 1 × Lycoming IO-360-A1B6, 149 kW (200 hp)
Wingspan: 10.2 m (33 ft 5 in)
Wing area: 14.86 m2 (160 ft2)
Length: 7.74 m (25 ft 5 in)
Height: 2.7 m (8 ft 10 in)
Empty weight: 839 kg (1850 lb)
Gross weight: 1225 kg (2700 lb)
Fuel Capacity: 210 ltr
Maximum speed: 339 km/h / 210 mph / 183 kts
Cruise Speed: 119 kts
Range: 1500 km / 932 miles / 600 nm
Take Off Distance: 620 m
Landing Distance: 270 m
Absolute Ceiling: 16500 ft
Service ceiling: 5025 m (16,500 ft)
Maximum Climb Rate: 740 ft/min
Seats: 4

Korean Air

TerryLeave a comment

Aerospace division of the commercial airline, Korean Air Lines, founded 1976. Has built more than 300 McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing) MD 500 helicopters, and is now constructing Sikorsky UH-60Ps for the nation’s armed forces. In addition to developing its own four-seat lightplane as the Chang-Gong 91 (first flown 1991), it is currently working on its Multi-Purpose Helicopter (KMH) with Sikorsky assistance (to be flown in about the year 2000). Other activities include maintenance, upgrading, and production of components for U.S. and European airliners.

KAI KF-21 Boramae

TerryLeave a comment

Following the KF-21’s maiden flight on 19 July 2022, five additional prototypes were set to join the flight test campaign from October 2022, according to South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA).

The developmental Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) KF-21 Boramae fighter continued to expand its flight envelope in September 2022, with more prototypes set to join the testing campaign.

Overall, the development was expected to be completed by 2026.

DAPA’s programme update coincided with a 28 September ceremony at KAI’s factory at Sacheon attended by South Korean government officials and Indonesia’s defence establishment – Jakarta is a 20% partner in the W8.8 trillion ($6.15 billion) programme.

Eom also told Yonhap that Jakarta has paid just 30% of its share via unspecified “in-kind” payments, and that no payments have been made since 2017.

Jakarta’s tardiness with payments has been a persistent issue for the programme, although Indonesian president Joko Widodo and South Korean president Yoon Suk-Yeol reaffirmed their countries’ joint commitment to the KF-21 in July.

At present, 37 Indonesian personnel are in South Korea working on the project, and Herindra indicates that the aim is to raise this number to 100.

Powered by two GE Aviation F414 engines, the KF-21 will replace McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantoms and Northrop F-5s in South Korean service. Seoul is expected to obtain 120 and Indonesia 50, while the former also hopes to sell the type on the export market.

At the DX Korea 2022 show, KAI displayed a model of a prospective naval variant, the KF-21N. Media reports indicate that the jet would be capable of operations from both catapult assisted take-off but arrested recovery and STOBAR short take-off but arrested recovery vessels.

A model of the prospective naval variant of the KF-21, the ‘KF-21N’

The KAI KF-21 Boramae (meaning “hawk” in Korean) represents South Korea’s emergence as a major player in the global aerospace industry.

Powered by two General Electric F414 engines—the same that power the Super Hornet—the KF-21 reaches Mach 1.8 (2,200 km/h).

At approximately $74 million per unit, it offers near-fifth-generation capabilities at fourth-generation prices.

With 120 aircraft planned for South Korean service by 2032.

KAI KC-100 Naraon / KT-100

TerryLeave a comment

The KAI KC-100 Naraon is a four-seat, low-wing, single-engine light aircraft under development by Korea Aerospace Industries. Development began in June 2008 with a five-year development timeframe.

The KC-100 is built from carbon fibre and features gull-wing doors. The wing employs a laminar flow airfoil and winglets. The engine is a Continental TSIOF-550-K turbocharged 315 hp (235 kW) powerplant controlled by FADEC. A full-plane parachute system will be optional.

First flying on 20 July 2011, the name Naraon was chosen based on public input.

The company expected that deliveries would commence in mid-2013 at a forecast price of US$575,000.

In May 2014, the South Korean Air Force academy entered a memorandum of understanding to obtain a military trainer variant designated the KT-100, the first mass production contract for the aircraft. The KT-100 was to replace the 20 Ilyushin Il-103 aircraft at the academy to familiarize students with flying. The KT-100 first flew on 5 October 2015 and all expected to be delivered by the end of 2016.

KC-100 Naraon
Powerplant: 1 × Continental TSIOF-550-K , 315 hp (235 kW)
Wingspan: 37 ft 4 in (11.37 m)
Airfoil: laminar flow
Length: 27 ft 11 in (8.50 m)
Height: 9 ft 5 in (2.87 m)
Empty weight: 2,400 lb (1,089 kg)
Gross weight: 3,600 lb (1,633 kg)
Maximum speed: 210 kn (242 mph; 389 km/h)
Range: 1,200 nmi (1,381 mi; 2,222 km)
Crew: one
Capacity: three passengers

KAI KT-1 Woong Bee

TerryLeave a comment

Development was initiated under the KTX program as a single-engined turboprop, basic training aircraft for the Republic of Korea Air Force in 1988 using the CATIA computer program to completely develop the aircraft, the first of its class. It was jointly developed by KAI and the Agency for Defence Development (ADD).

Nine prototypes were built on June 1991 with the first flight of the KT-1 occurring on November 1991 for static and fatigue testing. In 1995, the project was officially named ‘Woongbi’. In 1998 the final test flight was performed. The KT-1 is the first completely indigenous Korean aircraft ever developed. In 1999, a contract was signed for eighty-five aircraft with provisions for an additional twenty between Korea Aerospace Industries and the Republic of Korea. The first KT-1 Woongbi was handed over to the Republic of Korea Air Force in 2000 with the delivery of the eighty-five aircraft being completed in 2002. The Republic of Korea Air Force received 85 KT-1s and 20 KA-1s.

KT-1 can be equipped with either an analog or ‘glass’ cockpit configuration. Both types are employed by the Republic of Korea Air Force.

KAI exported seven KT-1Bs plus spare parts to Indonesia in April 2003 under a 60 million USD contract, and five more in May 2005. A KT-1B was lost during training 24-Jun-2010 .

In a press release held in Sacheon, South Korea on March 8, 2006, KAI stated that it will export more than 150 improved versions of the KT-1 to various countries in Central America and Southeast Asia. The improved export version of the KT-1 will be called KT-1C.

As of June, 2007, South Korea and Turkey have successfully negotiated for a contract of exporting 40(+15) KT-1, as well as modular armor technology of K2 Black Panther for Turkey’s future indigenous MBT, to Turkey for KRW₩500,000,000,000 (approximately US$540,000,000).

A statement published by Chungwadae, the South Korean Presidential website, on 26 January 2010, said that India and South Korea had agreed, as part of upgrading their partnership to a ‘strategic relationship’, form a joint committee in the first half of 2010. The statement added that this committee will facilitate an offer from Seoul to supply up to 60 KT-1 trainers to meet Indian Air Force requirements. However, India signed the contract with Pilatus to supply 75 PC-7.

On November 6th 2012, KAI and the Peruvian Air Force has successfully negotiated a $200 million contract for 20 KT-1Ps (10 KT-1 trainers and 10 KA-1 armed counterinsurgency variants) including some offset and technologies transfers for an approximate amount of US$208 millions. KAI will provide the first 4 airplanes by 2014 and the rest will be assembled at SEMAN (Maintenance air wing of the Peruvian Air Force).

Peru reported on 19 November 2013 having set up its KT-1 family assembly plant at Las Palmas Air Base in Lima, and plans to begin final assembly work on 16 planes beginning in March 2014. The first flight of a KT-1P for Peru took place on 19 Febuary 2014. Korean Aerospace Industries (KAI) announced on 21 May 2014 it started the production of the KT-1 Woongbi for the Peruvian Air Force.

Variants:

KTX-1 Yeo-myung
Prototype primary trainer each with a different engine fitted, six built.

KA-1
An armed advanced trainer with light attack and forward air control capabilities. Several new features unique to the KA-1 are head-up-display and up-front control panel, MFD panels, and five hardpoints, two under each wing and one under the fuselage. The hardpoints may be equipped with rocket launcher, gun pods or AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles.

KT-1B
Export version for Indonesia.

KT-1C
Improved, armed export version equipped with a centreline forward looking infrared pod. The KT-1C may also be equipped with a 12.7 mm gun pod, chaffes, flares, training missiles, rockets or unguided bombs.

KT-1T
Export version for Turkey.

KT-1P
Export version for Peru.

Gallery

Specifications:

KT-1
Engine: 1 × Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-62, 950 hp (708 kW)
Wingspan: 10.59 m (34 ft 9 in)
Wing area: 16.01 sq.m (172.3 sq ft)
Length: 10.26 m (33 ft 8 in)
Height: 3.68 m (12 ft 1 in)
Empty weight: 1,910 kg (4,210 lb)
Max. takeoff weight: 2,540 kg (5,600 lb)
Maximum speed: 574 km/h (310 knots, 357 mph) (IAS)
Range: 1,333 km (720 nmi, 828 mi) at 7,620 m (25,000 ft), max internal fuel
Service ceiling: 11,580 m (38,000 ft)
Rate of climb: 16.2 m/s (3,180 ft/min)
Endurance: 3 h
Crew: 2 in tandem

Koppen Skyfarer

TerryLeave a comment

Otto Koppen left Ford to join the faculty of MIT, and in 1938, he decided that the time was ripe for an easy to fly airplane, so while teaching at MIT, he designed and set up a company to produce the Skyfarer, a two seat, two control monoplane. Koppen felt the Skyfarer needed no rudder, since its large twin vertical stabilizers were widely spaced on the tail out of the slipstream. In the air, the ball stayed centered at all times. In fact, the Skyfarer was so easy to fly that a complete novice was once taught the basics during only 50 minutes in the airplane. Twenty five Skyfarers were built; then World War II began, the Government requisitioned aluminum and production stopped.

Kopcsa 1913 Monogyroplane

TerryLeave a comment

In 1913 Romanian émigré Alexander Kopcsa (often found written as Kopesa and Kopsca, his original Romanian name was Alexandru Copcea), living in Chicago, invented this large flying machine (span 50 feet and length 40 feet), intended to be used in an attempt to fly across the Atlantic Ocean. The 170 hp engine was to turn two vertical and two horizontal propellers.

Koolhoven F.K.59

TerryLeave a comment

The type number F.K.59 has been used for three Koolhoven designs: a two-engined float plane, an open two-seat sports plane and a single engined military biplane developed from the F.K.52. Of these three aircraft it was the single engined biplane that made it to production as Koolhoven F.K.59, first flown in 1940. It was the last Koolhoven design in production.
Other sources mostly show a photo of the two-engined float plane as F.K.59, but this was just a mock-up, not an actual aircraft, neither a prototype.