First T-129 Built at TAI Facilities Successfully conducts first flight

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Ankara, August 17th, 2011 – Turkish Aerospace Industries, Inc. (TAI) is pleased to announce the successful first flight of the first T129 prototype, produced at TAI’s facilities in Ankara, Turkey.

The first flight, conducted by TAI’s test pilots, of T129 “P6” prototype helicopter has timely and successfully been completed at TAI’s facilities in Akıncı (Ankara).

The ATAK Program was initiated with the aim to meet the Attack/Tactical Reconnaissance Helicopter requirements of the Turkish Land Forces Command (TLF) by the integration of high-tech avionic equipment, hardware and software which will be developed in Turkey.

The first flight of the P6 prototype marks an important milestone in the ATAK Program such that; being the first of a total of three T129 prototypes to be assembled in Turkey, it shows the level of technology achieved by Turkish Aerospace Industries, Inc.

Turkish Aerospace Industries, Inc. (TAI) is the center of technology in design, development, manufacturing, integration of aerospace systems, modernization and after sales support in Turkey. Located in Ankara - Turkey, TAI’s modern aircraft facilities are furnished with high technology machinery and equipment that provide extensive manufacturing capabilities. TAI has a total of 3928 highly motivated employees, 1200 of whom are engineers.

 

[BordoEnes]

Wow great job! Love you TAI Guys!

 

[Imran Khan]

wow again you done it dear look nice and this time our best wishes with baby .make 5-6 more prototypes man urgently .

 

[Zabaniyah]

That desert camo looks wicked

 

[Imran Khan]

That desert camo looks wicked

lolz its not camo dude it original body which need to test before camo haahahaha

 

[Zabaniyah]

lolz its not camo dude it original body which need to test before camo haahahaha

Oh damn ><

 

[cabatli_53]

P-2 and P-3 = Italian produced
P-4, P-5 and P-6 = Turkey produced prototypes.

 

[cabatli_53]

Trials with P-2 and P-3 will be performed/ being performed by Italian test pilots in Italy, While 4-5 and 6 by TAI test pilots in Turkey...

 

[cabatli_53]

P-2 will stay in Italy under the responsibility of Agusta Westland as Italian test-bed T-129 Atak helicopter for further upgrades-modifications and versions.
P-3 will be Turkish test-bed T-129 Atak helicopter under the responsibility of Undersecretariat of Turkish Defence Industry (SSM) for further upgrades-modifications, blocks and versions performed by TAI.

 

[cabatli_53]

I think Combination of Roketsan UMTAS IIR guided long range AT - Cirit 2.75 Inch semi active laser-MEMS guided missiles on more than 90 T-129 Atak in the hands of Turkish Armed Forces would be a real nightmare of enemies.

 

[Jango]

well done to the Turks, although this ain't the camo, the camo along these lines and also the dark green will make it a mean looking heli.

 

[Nav]

congrats to Turkey and TAI, Any video of 1st flight???

 

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T-129 will be a special helicopter for Turkey, especially with so much electronics developed in-house by Aselsan.

Can't wait to see our pilots using Aselsan developed AVCI Helmet Mounted Cueing System.

 

[cabatli_53]

Aselsan AVCI HMCS

[video]http://www.izlesene.com/video/aselsan-aselflir300-ve-avci-kaski/3427677[/video]

 

[Qasibr]

I really hope we see this heli in service with the Pak Army. They do have a heli requirement, to replace or augment the AH-1 Cobras, and given the current Pak-US relationship, the choice would likely be between the T-129 and the Chinese Z-10.