Article Posted on : - Sep 05, 2012

The K-8 jet trainer.

BEIJING (BNS): China's K-8 Karakorum military trainer aircraft has completed high altitude trials by flying more than 4,000-kms above sea level.

The aircraft, which is an export variant of the Chinese-made Hongdu JL-8 basic two-seat jet trainer with light attack capabilities, successfully made flight from a plateau airport 4,058 meters above sea level in July, the China National Aero-Technology Import & Export Corporation (CATIC) said in a statement last month.

During the trial, two K-8 aircraft were test flown by Chinese and foreign pilots who "completed all plateau test subjects, including six sorties of both models of clean configuration +50% and +100% built-in fuel," the statement said.

Previous tests of the combat trainer jet involved flights from airports less than 1,500 meters above sea level.

To meet the user's needs and expand the range of application of K-8 aircraft, a series of development and test work has been done to improve its plateau adaptability. Now, K-8 series aircraft can meet the operation requirements in the plateau airport 4,058 meters above sea level, the CATIC said.

The success of K-8 test flight at plateau area makes it the first Chinese military aircraft taking off at 4,058 meters above sea level. It marks a great breakthrough in K-8 trainer's capabilities, the Corporation said, adding that the aircraft is now able to take off, land and operate at 99.9% airports around the globe.

China has exported the military trainer jets to a number of countries, including Pakistan.