June 7,
2008: South Korean Air Force officials
had a "good news/bad news" message for the U.S. Boeing Corporation, regarding
defective components in the 29 Boeing built F-15K fighter-bombers that were
recently delivered. Some 1200 components
were found to be defective. This did not create any serious operational
problems with the aircraft. The South Koreans also pointed out that each
aircraft had 65,000 components that might need to be repaired or replaced,
which meant the 1,200 defective parts represented only one part in every 1,667.
Boeing had no comment on this report.
The South
Koreans have gone over their F-15Ks (similar to the U.S. Air Force F-15E)
carefully since one was lost in 2005. That accident turned out to have resulted
from the pilot turning too sharply and blacking out from excessive G-forces.
South Korea has ordered another 21 F-15Ks, which cost about $100 million each.
