South Korea launches its T-50, the world's first supersonic trainer jet

Is it just me or does the T-50 look almost exactly like the L-15 from China?






[edit on 19-10-2005 by COWlan]

Sorry but it must be your eyes pal. Where do you get ANY likeness at all?

The back half of the T-50 looks like the F-16, which was deliberate as GD, or LM helped with the development and 'F-16 shapes' are the only ones that Lockheed give away.

That chinese design however is clearly heavily influenced by the Aermachhi 346/Yak 130. It is most likely Yak 130 based as Italy have gone their own way. The T-50 and the L-15 are nothing like each other.




















[edit on 20-10-2005 by waynos]

[edit on 20-10-2005 by waynos]

Wow, it is my eyes. I better get it checked.

Supersonic jet trainer aircraft


1) maximum speed

Guizhou JL-9 2 Mach
Mitsubishi T-2 1.63 Mach
KAI T-50 1.5 Mach
Hongdu L-15 1.4 Mach
T-38 Talon 1.3 Mach
Aermacchi M346 1.2 Mach


2) rate of climb

Guizhou JL-9 15600 m/min
Hongdu L-15 12000 m/min
T-38 Talon 10242 m/min
Aermacchi M346 6401 m/min


3) ceiling

KAI T-50 16760 m
Guizhou JL-9 16000 m
Hongdu L-15 16000 m
T-38 Talon 15240 m
Mitsubishi T-2 15240 m
Aermacchi M346 13715 m


4) engine thrust

KAI T-50 78.7 kN
Guizhou JL-9 66.7 kN
Mitsubishi T-2 63.52 kN
Aermacchi M346 55.6 kN
T-38 Talon 34.2 kN


5) maximum range

Hongdu L-15 3100 km
Mitsubishi T-2 2870 km
Guizhou JL-9 2500 km
Aermacchi M346 1890 km
KAI T-50 1851 km
T-38 Talon 1835 km


6) production

T-38 Talon 1187
Mitsubishi T-2 90
KAI T-50 64
Aermacchi M346 2
Guizhou JL-9 2
Hongdu L-15 2