An airline that builds aircraft

Most airlines buy aircraft. Korean Air started building them. In 1976 its aerospace division began licence production of the Hughes, later McDonnell Douglas, 500MD helicopter, and by 1984 it had delivered 200 to the Republic of Korea forces, 50 of them armed with TOW anti-tank missiles. It also took on maintenance of US military aircraft in Asia, and still runs a depot business for the US Department of Defense.

Tigers and Black Hawks

Fighters came next. Between 1982 and 1986 the division built 68 Northrop F-5 Tiger IIs under licence, 48 single-seat KF-5Es and 20 two-seat KF-5Fs. From the 1990s it produced the UH-60P Black Hawk, an improved UH-60L for the Korean Army; around 150 were built. It also makes the wings and aft fuselage of the KF-16 and parts for Boeing and Airbus airliners from the 737 to the A380.

Blue Sky 91 and unmanned helicopters

In 1991 the division flew the Chang-Gong 91, Blue Sky 91, a four-seat light aircraft designed with the Korea Institute of Aeronautical Technology and billed as the first aircraft designed, built and tested in Korea. In October 2015 it showed a mock-up of an unmanned, armed MD 500, a way to reuse up to 175 ageing helicopters, and it has since concentrated on drones and military upgrades alongside its airliner parts.

Заводы

• Busan / Gimhae · Gimhae International Airport area, Busan — Maintenance facilities at Gimhae