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| Air Force Maj. Ahn Jun-hyun speaks during an interview. Courtesy of the Defense Acquisition Program Administration |
By Kang Seung-woo
Air Force Maj. Ahn Jun-hyun, who successfully conducted the maiden flight of the nation's first domestically developed fighter jet, Tuesday, admitted that he felt substantial psychological stress right before takeoff.
But ultimately, he was able to shake off the pre-performance jitters and complete the historic flight, making Korea the world's eighth country to develop an advanced supersonic warplane.
The KF-21 Boramae, developed by Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), took to the skies for the first time ― 21 years after the KF-X program was initiated to manufacture an advanced multi-role fighter plane with higher capabilities than a KF-16 fighter. The Air Force plans to secure 120 KF-21s by 2032.
"Although I did not express it, I felt a lot of psychological pressure until right before the takeoff," Ahn of the 52nd Test and Evaluation Group said in an interview released by the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) to the media, Wednesday.
"However, after taking off and soaring above the sky over Sacheon, I flew comfortably and smoothly in accordance with the preset route."
In another interview with the joint press corps, Ahn said he felt a sense of relief after getting a better feel for the aircraft while operating it.
"I think the flight test is not the end but a new beginning," the pilot added.
The KF-21 took off at the third Flying Training Wing of the Air Force in Sacheon, South Gyeongsang Province, where KAI is also based. According to DAPA, the aircraft, armed with four Meteor air-to-air missiles, traveled at a speed of about 400 kilometers per hour, or 215 knots, for 33 minutes, without reaching supersonic speeds.
The 40-year-old said he has a strong recollection from when the KF-21 was taking off.
"It is the most memorable moment as well as the most stressful," he said. "When pulling the control stick, enabling the aircraft to lift off the ground, I felt great emotion," he said.
"After landing, I received congratulations from so many people and I give credit to those who worked hard to develop and test the KF-21."
According to the Air Force, Ahn began to prepare for the KF-21 flight test in February 2021.
"While preparing for the flight test for over a year, I went through a lot of training, including flight and cockpit simulations, which helped me complete the maiden flight successfully," Ahn said.
Until the first flight test, the KF-X program had experienced a series of twists and turns, such as a dispute over whether it should have a single or double engine, refusal by the United States to transfer a core technology and a major modification to the fuselage layout. In 2015, DAPA signed a fighter development contract with KAI, the nation's lone aircraft maker.
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| A KF-21 Boramae takes off at the third Flying Training Wing of the Air Force in Sacheon, South Gyeongsang Province, Tuesday, for its first flight test. Courtesy of Defense Acquisition Program Administration |
Ahn praised the KF-21 for its fast acceleration in takeoff and easy mid-air control as well as its solid shock-absorbing system when landing.
Formerly a flight instructor of Korea's KT-1 trainer aircraft at the third Flying Training Wing, Ahn decided to apply to become a test pilot, hoping to contribute to boosting the Air Force's military capabilities through flight testing.
Currently, there are six KF-21 prototypes and KAI plans to conduct a combined 2,200 sorties to finish fighter development by 2026 before undergoing a one-year tentative combat suitability test this year, with a view to achieving its final combat suitability in 2026 ― key steps in the phased development process.
Ahn, of course, will be part of that process.
"The 2,200 sorties are not that many because it is not easy to test an aircraft, which is the culmination of numerous technologies," Ahn said.
"Like the first flight, my goal is to continue conducting flight tests safely until the end (of the evaluation period)."
He added, "As an Air Force pilot, I want to contribute to making an aircraft that everyone is satisfied with by helping the aircraft reach the optimal condition to perform missions."
Ahn will be recorded as the Air Force pilot of the KF-21's maiden flight. But he did not read much into that label.
"I do not want to attach too much significance to the title of 'first test-flight pilot,'" he said. "The upcoming test flight and the missions to be done are more important."
