The T-CH-1 was the first aircraft designed from scratch by the ROC Air Force Aero Industry Development Center (AIDC) in Taiwan. The project started out as an unofficial concept design carried out by officers undergoing internship at Lockheed Aircraft in 1969. The aircraft was to have an original aerodynamic shape and a Garret TPE-331 turboprop engine.
Final approval of the project was given on Fall 1970. ROCAF General Headquarters authorized a budget of NT$25,000,000 (about US$700,000) for the development and construction of 2 prototypes in 3.5 years. Given the budget limitations, it was decided to follow the aerodynamic shapes of the North American T-28A Trojan as closely as possible to save on various tests.
Detailed design of the aircraft started on November 1970. AIDC did not have blueprints of the T-28A and had to derive its external shape through lofting. Thus, the T-CH-1 was not exactly identical to the Trojan, and structural components were not interchangeable. The only major components directly taken from the T-28A were the landing gears.
In early 1971, AIDC started licenced production of 80 Lycoming T53-L-701 turboprop engines as a part of the joint production effort of Bell UH-1H helicopters for the ROC Army. To achieve economy of scale, an administrative decision was made to use the said engine on the T-CH-1.
The first prototype was rolled out on Sept. 29, 1973. First flight followed on Nov. 23, 1973. Phase 1 test flights were completed in February 1974. Prototype 2 was completed in November 1974, and was the first to be installed with 6 underwing hardpoints capable of weapons delivery trials aside from performance test flights.
Initial production of 35 aircraft was authorized. Delivery to the ROCAF Academy started in November 1976 and completed in 1979. Another batch of 15 was ordered in 1980, and completed in 1981.
SERVICE HISTORY
ROCAF Academy was the first user of the T-CH-1. The aircraft was first used in intermediate flight training. Since 1982, the Academy reorganized its flight training program into primary and advanced classes, and the T-CH-1 was used for the former. In 1985, the Academy procured Beech T-34C trainers and transferred its remaining T-CH-1 to ROCAF operational units.
While serving with operational squadrons, the Chung Hsing was known by two other designations: A-CH-1 and R-CH-1. The former utilized its large payload potential in ground attack role, while the latter carried underwing camera pods for reconnaissance and maritime patrol missions. The entire fleet was retired in 1993 after exceeding airframe design life of 15 years. Though several T-CH-1 are preserved in parks and schools, no flyable example exists today.
