IELTS Writing Structure study excerpt from Korea Times News

'After 5 years of work, T-50 made a maiden flight'

“Are you able to make a T-50 supersonic trainer jet?” So said engineers from Lockheed Martin, a joint developer of the aircraft, recalled Chang Sung-sup, chief of development at Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), Tuesday. Earlier in the day, Indonesia announced the selection of KAI as the preferred bidder in its trainer jet program. In an interview, Chang, 56, said, “At that time, we felt like we were being slighted. But they might have thought like that since we had never produced any aircraft on our own until that time.” In October 1999, the KAI was established through a three-way merger involving Samsung Aerospace, Hyundai Aerospace and Daewoo Heavy Industries’ aircraft division. They had no foreign experts. Lockheed engineers forecast that it would take twice as long for the KAI to develop the T-50 Golden Eagle than originally planned. Chang said that “after we heard that, we asked ourselves: can we do it? But we did not give up, and united. We thought we could do it.” Work to develop the trainer jet began in 1997. Five years later, the T-50 successfully made a maiden flight. “It was something like a miracle for a country with no record on aircraft manufacturing to take only five years to produce a supersonic aircraft. Lockheed seemed to be a teacher who was doubtful about the ability of a freshman. But we made it by learning more and more,” he said. Chang said that from the start of designing, most engineers worked overtime at night and at the weekend as well as weekdays. “As soon as, we, KAI, succeeded in producing the T-50 early, Lockheed sent engineers in their 30s to KAI for hands-on experience. The chief designer for the F-35 jet fighter was chosen from among them,” he said, smiling.