THE NEW advanced jet trainer (AJT) for the Republic of China Air Force (ROCAF), the prototype XAT-5 Yung Yin (Brave Eagle), serial 11001/08-9001, completed its maiden flight on June 10 at Ching Chuan Kang Air Base in Taichung. It was accompanied by a pair of F-CK-1D Ching-Kuo fighters on chase-plane duty. This initial 20-minute sortie was followed on June 22 by an 'official' first flight in the presence of Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-Wen. The XAT-5 was rolled out in a ceremony at the Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation (AIDC) factory in Taichung last September 24 (see Taiwan's Advanced Jet Trainer unveiled, November 2019, p6). Sixty-six AT-5s will be built for the ROCAF and deliveries of final production aircraft are scheduled for 2026. It will replace the ROCAF's AT-3 Tzu Chiang jet trainer and F-5E/FS also used in the training role. A light fighter variant of the AT-5 is also expected.
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