The last two Brave Eagle advanced trainer aircraft were delivered, marking the end of the 9-year mission of China National Machinery Industry Corporation.

The last two Brave Eagles soared into the sky, led by Cao Jinping, chairman of Hanxiang Company, and personally delivered to Okayama Air Force Academy. (Photo by reporter Zhang Xuanzhe)

[Reporter Zhang Xuanzhe/Taichung Report] The Brave Eagle advanced training aircraft, with machine numbers 1165 and 1166, were personally delivered to the Okayama Air Force Academy today (24th) led by Cao Jinping, chairman of Hanxiang Company. The last two Brave Eagles soared into the sky, marking the end of the research and development and mass production of new high-education aircraft made by SINOMACH that lasted more than 9 years.

The Brave Eagle is a nationally-made benchmark model of the National Aircraft Corporation. The new high-education aircraft was completed in 2017 in the Republic of China. It was carried out through a "three-party contract" between the Air Force, the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Hanxiang Company. The entire project will deliver 66 mass-produced aircraft. Hanxiang Company integrates key leading players in full aircraft design, parts production, assembly, and testing, and participates through outsourcing guidance. More than 200 domestic manufacturers are involved to help Taiwan's manufacturing technology upgrade to aviation level.

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The last two Brave Eagles soared into the sky. Hanxiang Company Chairman Cao Jinping (second from left) waved to the media before taking off. (Photo by reporter Zhang Xuanzhe)

The first prototype was shipped from the factory in September 2019 and was officially named "Brave Eagle" by then President Tsai Ing-wen. Hanxiang General Manager Zhuang Xiumei said that the company team worked hard to overcome the international supply chain difficulties. Many outsourced system parts and key components were difficult to arrive, and Hanxiang was determined to start making its own. With the cooperation of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Industrial Research Institute, the Vehicle Center, and many domestic manufacturers, they broke through the manufacturing bottleneck that could not be completed abroad, and successively developed successfully. Last year and this year, 14 Brave Eagles were handed over each.

Hanxiang Chairman Cao Jinping pointed out that the completion of an arduous task also left complete production and integration experience for the next stage of military aircraft maintenance, upgrades, logistics support and new project energy. Now that the "full life" contract provided by the original manufacturer Hanxiang has been fully launched, Hanxiang's next focus will be on fleet logistics, and it will continue to serve customers through maintenance and repair work, helping the Air Force maintain its fleet in good condition and achieve training goals.