Second Lockheed Martin T-50A takes flight

Greenville, South Carolina – Two Lockheed Martin T-50A aircraft are now soaring together in the skies over Greenville, South Carolina. The inaugural Feb. 20, 2017 flight of the second production-ready T-50A from Lockheed Martin's Advanced Pilot Training (APT) operations center in Greenville is meant to further demonstrate the company's offering in the U.S. Air Force's T-X competition.

In February 2016, Lockheed Martin officials announced plans to offer the T-50A in the APT competition and build the aircraft at a final assembly and checkout (FACO) facility in Greenville. Lockheed Martin formally unveiled its T-50A FACO and operations center in August 2016.

The T-50A is intended to train 5th-generation jet fighter F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II pilots, as well as pilots for frontline 4th-generation fighter aircraft. The T-50A, developed with Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), builds upon more than 150 T-50s already flying, with more than 200,000 flight hours and more than 1,800 pilots who have trained in this aircraft.

Lockheed Martin's accompanying T-50A Ground-Based Training System features an immersive, synchronized ground-based training platform.

Source: Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co.