Chu, chief of the Planning Department at AIDC, recalls that in the early period, there was only basic maintenance and manufacture of spare parts. Later, the center did joint production with Northrup of the F-5E fighter and with Bell of the UH-1H helicopter, gaining experience and laying the foundation for the Ching-kuo fighter.
「成立之初是由最基本的零配件製造，以及經由合作生產，慢慢累績經驗的」，航發中心計畫組祝如竹博士指出，航發中心過去和 Northrop 合作生產 F-5E 戰機，和 Bell 合作生產 UH-1H 直升機等所累積的技術，正是為發展經國號所做的奠基工作。