Warplanes: November 11, 2001

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South Korea has rolled out its T-50 Golden Eagle advanced jet trainer, which can double as a light attack aircraft. It is virtually an 80% scale model of the F-16. Six prototypes are on order, but the South Korean Air Force expects to buy 100 aircraft. Korean Aircraft Industries hopes to capture a quarter of the trainer market, estimated as 3,300 aircraft by 2010. KAI plans to complete its production run of F-16s in 2004 and switch to the T-50.--Stephen V Cole