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Korea Aerospace KT-1 Wong Bee

Type (Muster)
Advanced turboprop trainer (Schulflugzeug mit Turboprop-Antrieb)

Country (Land)
South Korea (Südkorea)

Manufacturer (Hersteller)
Korea Aerospace Industries Ltd.
135, Seosomun-dong, Jung-gu
Seoul 100-737
South Korea

Phone: 0822/2001-3114, 3640
Fax: 0822/2001-3777, 3778
Internet:www.koreaaero.com

General (Allgemeine Angaben)
Crew (Besatzung): 2 in tandem on Martin-Baker Mk.16 ejection seats

Armament (Bewaffnung)
The KT-1 is unarmed. The planned KO-1 (XKO) will feature two hardpoints under each wing and one under the fuselage for seven-round rocket launchers (LAU-3A, LAU-131A), gun pods, drop tanks and Sidewinder missiles.

Power plant (Antrieb): 1 x Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-62 turboprop
Power (Leistung): 708 kW (950 shp) flat rating (from 1150 shp thermodynamic), with 671 kW (900 shp) maximum cruise
Propeller: Hartzell four blade, diameter 2,41 m

Dimensions (Abmessungen)
Length (Länge): 10,26 m
Height (Höhe): 3,67 m
Span (Spannweite): 10,60 m
Wing area (Flügelfläche): 16,01 m

Weights (Massen)
Basic empty weight (Leermasse): 1910 kg
Max. fuel (Max. Kraftstoff): 550 litres in integral wing tanks
Max. take-off weight (Max. Startmasse): 2540 kg or 3310 kg for the KO-1 with armament
Max. landing weight (Max. Landemasse): 2495 kg

Performance (Flugleistungen)
Max. diving speed (Höchstgeschwindigkeit im Sturzflug): 648 km/h
Max. cruise speed (maximale Reisegeschwindigkeit): 490 km/h at 3050 m
Stall speed (Überziehgeschwindigkeit): 130 km/h with gear and flaps down
Max. climb rate (max. Steigrate): 17,7 m/s at sea level
Service ceiling (Dienstgipfelhöhe): 11580 m (38000 ft) or 9145 m (30000 ft) with armament
Take-off run (Startrollstrecke): 245 m
Take-off to 15 m (Startstrecke über 15-m-Hindernis): 495 m
Landing distance from 15 m (Landestreckeüber 15-m-Hindernis): 730 m
Landing run (Landerollstrecke): 395 m
Range (Reichweite): 1667 km with full fuel
Endurance (Flugzeit): 5 hrs with internal fuel
g-limits: +7/-3,5 clean and +4,5/-2,3 with armament

Costs (Kosten)
A price of 4,7 million US-Dollars was mentioned by the Defence Ministry in February 2001.
South Korea is said to pay 600 billion Won for the 85 aircraft ordered in August 1999.
Indonesia will pay 60 million US-Dollars for seven aircraft, presumably including spares, logistics etc.
Development cost is said to be 100 – 110 billion Won (80 million US-Dollars in 2001).

Customers (Kunden)
There are two customers for the KT-1 at the moment:

South Korea: 85, with an option on 20 more (XKO version). Signed 9 August 1999, said to be worth 600 billion Won.
Indonesia: 7, with an option for 13 more, signed in February 2001. These are designated KT-1B. Deliveries started in July 2003.

Competitors (Konkurrenz)
Embraer EMB-312 Tucano
Pilatus PC-9
Raytheon T-6A Texan II (JPATS)

Remarks (Bemerkungen)
The KT-1 was developed to replace Cessna T-37 and T-41 trainers in RoKAF service. It covers both screening and primary pilot training. The design closely resembles other turboprop trainers like the PC-9, with even the same engine.
The KT-1 is said to have excellent flight characteristics with low stall speed and easy spin recovery. An automatic rudder trim system simulates jet behaviour. While the first aircraft have an analog cockpit the last 30 for South Korea will feature an all-glass configuration.
KAI is promoting a training system around the KT-1 aircraft, with fully integrated ground school and simulator. Integrated logistics are part of the programme, featuring modern attributes like electronic technical manuals.
KAI is also developing a KO-1 version for close air support and forward air control duties as a replacement for South Koreas O-2. Changes include:

head-up-display and up-front control panel from Electro Optics Industries
MFD form Astronautics
Four hardpoints for external tanks
LAU-3/131 rocket launchers (seven rounds each)

An export version is designated KT-1C. It can carry a 12,7 mm gun pod, Mk 81/82 bobms, training missiles, chaff and flares as well as the LAU-3/131. It can also carry a centreline FLIR. Also an OBOGS is fitted.

History (Geschichte)
Development of South Korea´s first indigenously designed aircraft, under the KTX designation, began in February 1988 as a cooperation between Daewoo and ADD (Agency for Defence Development). Design was 100 per cent by CATIA, with digital mock-ups.
Nine prototypes were built from June 1991, with four of them used for static and fatigue testing. Flying machines were:
  - 01 was rolled out in November 1991 and made the maiden flight on 12. December
  - 02 made its first flight on 5 February 1993
  - 03 first flew on 10 August 1995
  - 04 was in the air on 10 May 1996
  - 05 flew on 15 March 1998. This was to a pre production standard
The name Wong Bee was adopted in 1995.
Development and operational testing concluded in September 1998 after 1474 flying hours in 1184 sorties.
On 9 August 1999, a contract worth 600 billion Won was signed for 85 aircraft, with 20 options.
The first production aircraft was handed over to the RoKAF at Sachon on 7. November 2000.
Indonesia became the first export customer in February 2001 with an order for seven. The delivery is in exchange for Indonesias provision of 10 CN-235 medium-sized transports.
Currently, KAI is working on a XKO version for tasks like FAC (Forward Air Control) and border patrol or counter insurgency operations. One KT-1 is in use for armament testing, another for performance trials and one as a back-up.
The KT-1 made its international airshow debut at Asian Aerospace in February 2002 at Singapore. KAI was promoting the XKO for nations like Philippines, Indonesia and Thailand.
By the end of 2002, 55 of the 85 aircraft ordered by South Korea had been delivered.
An official ceremony for the first delivery of the KT-1B to Indonesia was held on 14 July 2003 in Yogyakarta Adisutjipto Air Force Base, Indonesia. Indonesian Air Force Chief of Staff Chappi Hakim and officials from the Defense Ministry and Kil Hyoung_Bo, President and CEO of Korea Aerospace Industries, Ltd. attended the ceremony.

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Last updated 15 August 2003

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