The nation celebrated the 30th anniversary of the maiden flight of its self-designed, self-manufactured jet trainer yesterday.
In attendance at the Taichung complex of Aerospace Industrial Development Corp (AIDC) were Vice Minister of Economic Affairs Lin Sheng-chung (林聖忠), Taichung Mayor Jason Hu (胡志強) and representatives from the air force.
The event started with a film documenting the difficulties encountered during three decades of the trainer’s development and how they were overcome.
PHOTO: CNA
“Without the AIDC, there would be no aerospace industry in Taiwan,” Lin said.
In 1975, the air force asked the Aero Industry Development -Center, the company’s predecessor, to research and develop a new trainer to replace its aging T-33 trainers, AIDC said.
Sixty-three AT-3 trainers were made, the company said, of which two were prototypes. The first rolled out on July 17, 1980, and made its maiden flight on Sept. 16, 1980.
Development and manufacture of the plane was a significant step in the history of the nation’s -aviation industry, AIDC said, saying that it signaled Taiwan’s transition from propeller-driven aircraft to jet planes.
As a result of the experience gained through the development of the AT-3 trainers, the country was later able to develop its first defense fighter: A supersonic, twin-engined plane similar to the F-16, but slightly smaller and with a slightly shorter range.
Three Taiwanese airlines have prohibited passengers from packing Bluetooth earbuds and their charger cases in checked luggage. EVA Air and Uni Air said that Bluetooth earbuds and charger cases are categorized as portable electronic devices, which should be switched off if they are placed in checked luggage based on international aviation safety regulations. They must not be in standby or sleep mode. However, as charging would continue when earbuds are placed in the charger cases, which would contravene international aviation regulations, their cases must be carried as hand luggage, they said. Tigerair Taiwan said that earbud charger cases are equipped
Foreign travelers entering Taiwan on a short layover via Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport are receiving NT$600 gift vouchers from yesterday, the Tourism Administration said, adding that it hopes the incentive would boost tourism consumption at the airport. The program, which allows travelers holding non-Taiwan passports who enter the country during a layover of up to 24 hours to claim a voucher, aims to promote attractions at the airport, the agency said in a statement on Friday. To participate, travelers must sign up on the campaign Web site, the agency said. They can then present their passport and boarding pass for their connecting international
UNILATERAL MOVES: Officials have raised concerns that Beijing could try to exert economic control over Kinmen in a key development plan next year The Civil Aviation Administration (CAA) yesterday said that China has so far failed to provide any information about a new airport expected to open next year that is less than 10km from a Taiwanese airport, raising flight safety concerns. Xiamen Xiangan International Airport is only about 3km at its closest point from the islands in Kinmen County — the scene of on-off fighting during the Cold War — and construction work can be seen and heard clearly from the Taiwan side. In a written statement sent to Reuters, the CAA said that airports close to each other need detailed advanced
WEATHER Typhoon forming: CWA A tropical depression is expected to form into a typhoon as early as today, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday, adding that the storm’s path remains uncertain. Before the weekend, it would move toward the Philippines, the agency said. Some time around Monday next week, it might reach a turning point, either veering north toward waters east of Taiwan or continuing westward across the Philippines, the CWA said. Meanwhile, the eye of Typhoon Kalmaegi was 1,310km south-southeast of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), Taiwan’s southernmost point, as of 2am yesterday, it said. The storm is forecast to move through central
RSS