TAI To Manufacture Turkey’s First Commercial Helicopter

ANKARA – Countdown has started for Turkey`s first commercial helicopter to be built by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) that has become a global defense industry giant after manufacturing F-16 fighter jets.

TAI plans to collaborate with national and international aerospace companies and projects to begin ground and flight tests once the prototype is completed in 2010.

Turkey`s first commercial helicopters are planned to have a capacity to carry 6 or 8 passengers and weigh 2 tons, TAI officials said.

TAI engineers have been working to produce fuselage and other parts of the prototype. Engineers will then manufacture avionics, engine, fuel tank and other related parts of the helicopter.

(TÇ-UK)

(GEN)

Source: www.turkishpress.com, 17.08.2008