Turkish combat training aircraft awaiting its first flight

The Turkish Aerospace Industries company has presented its latest products at the TEKNOFEST KARADENİZ Aerospace Festival in Samsun province on the Black Sea coast.

The event is organised by the Turkish Technology Team Foundation (T3 Foundation) and the Turkish Industry and Technology Ministry on the territory of Samsun Airport, Anadolu Agency reports.

Festival guests also had the opportunity to see Gökbey (a twin-engined light transport/utility helicopter developed by Turkish Aerospace Industries), HÜRJET aircraft, Turkish fighter jets TF-X, Anka, and Aksungur manufactured by TUSAS. The company also organises various events for the participants.

Turkish Aerospace Industries is preparing the HÜRJET combat trainer aircraft for its first flight, scheduled for March 18, 2023.

The company’s CEO Temel Kotil told Anadolu Agency that the festival's purpose is to inspire young people to new technological developments.

According to him, for the 100th anniversary of the independence of the Republic of Türkiye, the company is preparing the HÜRJET, the Turkish military fighter TF-X and the Atak-2 helicopter for flight, flights are scheduled for March 18, 2023.

Kotil emphasised that the development of TF-X is critical in terms of the fate and future of Türkiye, and HÜRJET and Atak-2 are excellent projects in themselves.

"The real wealth of Türkiye is the youth gathered at the festival site. Young talents will continue our work. Anything can be developed, including a domestic combat aircraft, but if there is no continuation, then everything will end. It's not worth it. But there is a lot of enthusiasm in the eyes of the children," he said.

Further, the CEO of the company spoke in detail about the process of developing and assembling HÜRJET.

According to him, the assembly of the combat vehicle is nearing completion, work is underway on the interior, the aircraft will soon be put on the chassis, the company is preparing for tests and further for the first flight on March 18, 2023.

"A beautiful mock-up model (3D model) of our aircraft was exhibited at the festival. The first flight of Atak-2 is also scheduled for the first months of next year. Gökbey made a demonstration flight at TEKNOFEST, performing excellent manoeuvers," Kotil continued.

According to the CEO, one Gökbey is currently ready for sale, and mass production has been established, the combat vehicles will be transferred to the Turkish gendarmerie.

"Helicopters will also enter the inventory of the Turkish Health Ministry as sanitary. Hürkuş also flew, which, although with propellers, is not inferior to a military aircraft. The company demonstrates new products every time at the TEKNOFEST festival, and sales are carried out in parallel. Hürkuş, Atak, Anka, Aksungur are in demand in other countries," he added.