MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines's newest fighter-trainer jets FA-50PH "Fighting Eagle" units on Monday conducted two ceremonial high-speed passes for the Armed Forces' 8pth anniversary celebration at Clark Air Base in Pampanga.
The two light-interim aircraft made by Korea Aerospace Industries made a 350-knot, low-level pass as military Chief of Staff Gen. Hernando Iriberri was concluding his anniversary speech.
FA-50PH units conduct a high-speed pass at the Clark Air Base in Pampanga on Monday, Dec. 21 2015 for the Armed Forces of the Philippines 80th anniversary celebration.
"Fellow soldiers on this 80th AFP anniversary, let us be grateful for the blessings of our country and the value of freedom and democracy for which countless of our fellow soldiers had offered their lives. Let us once more bear ourselves to our duties with the values of honor, service and patriotism and let us all carry on with our country's colors held high to advance and transform to protect the people and secure the state," Iriberri said.
The jets made another pass as President Benigno Aquino III ended his anniversary message to the military after Iriberri's speech.
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The two FA-50PH units, delivered on November 28, are part of a P18.9 billion defense acquisition project signed in February 2014. The remaining units are set to be delivered in 2016. — with Efigenio Toledo IV