Turkish Training Aircraft Takes First Flight

Hurkus, Turkey's first basic training aircraft, has made its first 33-minute test flight.

 

The airplane was developed by Turkish engineers using domestic resources, both to meet the needs of Turkish Air Forces, and to have a share in the world market as a training plane.

 

Designed by Turkish Aerospace Industries Inc. (TAI) in 2006, Hurkus has the qualification of being a training plane designed according to the rules of the European Authority of Civil Aviation EASA CS 23 compatible with the primary and basic pilot training program. It also meets the light attack/armed reconnaissance aircraft requirements of Turkey's armed forces with the ability to perform day and night missions.

 

Produced for conducting instrument flights, navigation, and formation training, Hurkus features a pressurized cockpit, an onboard oxygen generating system (OBOGS), and anti-G system.

 

Fifty engineers had a role in the design of the aircraft, while 50 engineers and 350 technicians worked in its mass production phase.

 

The aircraft is named after Vecihi Hurkus, Turkey’s first civil aviator who also built the country’s first airplane.