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April 03, 2022

Mid-Air Collision Between 2 ROKAF Trainers Kills 4

Dangers of the Terminal Environment Seen Once Again as Turboprop Trainer Aircraft Collide Soon After Takeoff

The South Korean Air Force saw tragedy today, when two pairs of trainee pilots and their instructors collided in midair resulting in the deaths of all those aboard despite their ejection. The Aircraft were a pair of KT-1 aircraft, a domestically produced, turboprop advanced trainer. They had taken off from a base near the southeastern city of Sacheon and flew for about 5 minutes until the aircraft collided. Both sets of pilots ejected but unfortunately perished regardless. South Korean authorities said that trainees were first lieutenants being trained by outside civilian instructors.

Selected for CH-53K Modification Program

Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin subsidiary, has successfully obtained a coveted CH-53K helicopter modification contract worth $25.6 million. The work is expected to be completed by June of 2023, working through a program to design, revise, test, and qualify a new data concentrator and blade fold distributor units for the CH-53K King Stallion propulsion system. The modification provides non-recurring engineering that is hoped to mitigate component obsolescence and outdated test equipment used to maintain the helicopter.