CLARK FREEPORT – Officials from the Republic of Korea and the Philippines vowed anew yesterday to strengthen further the ties between their countries as they signed documents that formally turned over to the Philippine Air Force (PAF) 15 T-41B trainer aircraft in ceremonies here yesterday.
Defense Sec. Gilbert Teodoro thanked the South Korean government for the “transfer” of the 15 aircraft which, he said, will be used to train pilots of the PAF.
South Korean ambassador to the Philippines Choi Jung Kyung said the aircraft, manufactured by Cessna Aircraft Company, were the first such aircraft to be turned over by his government to the Philippines.
Maj. Gerry Zamudio, director of the PAF’s public information office, said the aircraft will be used for “primary training of pilots”.
Zamudio estimated that each of such aircraft would cost about P2.5 million at current market price. He said some P4.7 million was spent by the government to haul the aircraft from Busan in South Korea to Clark for yesterday’s turn over rites.
“The aircraft were initially received by the South Koreans from the United States and were later decommissioned by the Korean military in 2006. But the aircraft remained in good flying condition and were decommissioned only because they were replaced by the Korean military with newer aircraft,” he said.
As if to demonstrate the operability of the aircraft, Teodoro and Air Force chief Maj. Gen. Oscar Rabena flew one of them after the turn over rites at the Air Force City hosted by the 600th Air Base Wing here.
“The transfer of the aircraft is part of the memorandum of understanding on logistics and defense industry cooperation between the Philippines and South Korea and arose from the 11th joint committee meeting held in Seoul in 2007 and then at the 12th meeting last year in Baguio City,” Zamudio noted.
In his speech, Kyung noted that the turn over rites coincided with this year’s commemoration of Philippines-Republic of Korea Friendship Year and three days past the Philippines-Republic of Korea Friendship Day last March 2 under Presidential Proclamation No. 1492 issued by Pres. Arroyo in May last year.
Teodoro said that the 15 pilot trainer aircraft will augment the seven still functioning pilot aircraft now with the PAF. The transferred aircraft will be moved to the PAF’s air education command in Fernando Air Base in Lipa City, Batangas.
The T-41B aircraft is the US Army version of the T-41A aircraft ordered by the US Air Force in 1964 from Cessna manufacturer. It weighs about 2,500 pounds and has a cruise speed of 110 miles per hour. It can fly a range of 565 nautical miles with “endurance” of four hours with “service ceiling” of 17,500 feet.
Defense Sec. Gilbert Teodoro thanked the South Korean government for the “transfer” of the 15 aircraft which, he said, will be used to train pilots of the PAF.
South Korean ambassador to the Philippines Choi Jung Kyung said the aircraft, manufactured by Cessna Aircraft Company, were the first such aircraft to be turned over by his government to the Philippines.
Maj. Gerry Zamudio, director of the PAF’s public information office, said the aircraft will be used for “primary training of pilots”.
Zamudio estimated that each of such aircraft would cost about P2.5 million at current market price. He said some P4.7 million was spent by the government to haul the aircraft from Busan in South Korea to Clark for yesterday’s turn over rites.
“The aircraft were initially received by the South Koreans from the United States and were later decommissioned by the Korean military in 2006. But the aircraft remained in good flying condition and were decommissioned only because they were replaced by the Korean military with newer aircraft,” he said.
As if to demonstrate the operability of the aircraft, Teodoro and Air Force chief Maj. Gen. Oscar Rabena flew one of them after the turn over rites at the Air Force City hosted by the 600th Air Base Wing here.
“The transfer of the aircraft is part of the memorandum of understanding on logistics and defense industry cooperation between the Philippines and South Korea and arose from the 11th joint committee meeting held in Seoul in 2007 and then at the 12th meeting last year in Baguio City,” Zamudio noted.
In his speech, Kyung noted that the turn over rites coincided with this year’s commemoration of Philippines-Republic of Korea Friendship Year and three days past the Philippines-Republic of Korea Friendship Day last March 2 under Presidential Proclamation No. 1492 issued by Pres. Arroyo in May last year.
Teodoro said that the 15 pilot trainer aircraft will augment the seven still functioning pilot aircraft now with the PAF. The transferred aircraft will be moved to the PAF’s air education command in Fernando Air Base in Lipa City, Batangas.
The T-41B aircraft is the US Army version of the T-41A aircraft ordered by the US Air Force in 1964 from Cessna manufacturer. It weighs about 2,500 pounds and has a cruise speed of 110 miles per hour. It can fly a range of 565 nautical miles with “endurance” of four hours with “service ceiling” of 17,500 feet.
