The first upgrade attempt was made in 1990 by I.Av.Craiova together with the Texas-based Jaffe Aircraft Corporation. Aircraft 708 and 709 were modified by installing Honeywell avionics, while the canopy was changed to a two-piece design instead of the original one piece. This change would be retained for all subsequent aircraft. 708 took its first flight on August 8th 1990 followed by 709 on August 22nd. The aircraft were displayed at the 1990 Farnborough Airshow, being proposed for the Joint Primary Aircraft Training System program for the United States of America, although this work resulted in no orders. In 1991, aircraft number 712 was outfitted with Collins avionics and took part in a show in Ankara, Turkey.