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Image source, Ministry of National Defense
Commander Hsiung Hou-chi in an F-5 fighter plane
The chief of the Taiwan Air Force boarded the first test flight of a fighter jet after a fatal accident last month.
Taiwan stopped flying all old F-5 fighters and conducted a full overhaul of the F-5 after a pilot passed away last month.
“I think the F-5s are safe to fly,” Air Force Commander Hsiung Hou-chi said, according to the Taiwan Army.
China views Taiwan as its province and does not rule out the possibility of retaking Taiwan by force, which creates tensions over Taiwan’s airspace.
In early October, Taiwan’s defense minister said the country’s air force had made nearly 3,000 flights since January to track or intercept Chinese aircraft.
Air Force Commander Hsiung flew in a two-seater plane during a 40-minute test flight on Saturday 11/14.
“I did a test flight to show my fellow citizens that the F-5 is reliable and show our willingness to protect the airspace of our Air Force military,” he received from the News Agency. Military quotes.
He added that the F-5s, over 40 years old, are still in service in 26 countries around the world.
Last month’s crash occurred with a single-seat F-5 aircraft.
Image source, fake images
Thai President Anh Van
The fighter jet was on a training flight on October 29 when it suddenly ran into a technical problem shortly after takeoff.
Taiwan’s The Focus news site reported that an investigation into the plane crash is underway and bad weather makes it difficult to find the wreckage.
Tensions between Taiwan and China have escalated in recent years after Thai Anh Van was elected president.
Last month, the United States approved the sale of American arms to Taiwan for about $ 1.4 billion, while China intensified its exercises.
On Thursday, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Taiwan was “not part of China,” prompting an angry response from the country’s Foreign Ministry.
