TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Air Force Flight Training Command held a solo flight patch and certificate ceremony on Friday for the first class of trainees enrolled in a streamlined training program.
Under the new program, trainees transition directly from the T-34 Mentor aircraft to the Brave Eagle advanced jet trainer. Previously, the training sequence included three aircraft models—the T-34 Mentor, AT-3 Tzu Chung, and Brave Eagle—before cadets advanced to fighter jets.
The flight training commander awarded solo flight patches to the cadets, congratulating them on successfully completing their solo flight tests and marking a key milestone in their pilot training.
Air Force Deputy Commander Chiang Kuang-hua (姜光華) visited Gangshan Air Base in Kaohsiung in March to oversee the launch of the new training framework. The Brave Eagle officially assumed unit training duties in 2023 following the retirement of Taiwan’s F-5 fleet.
