Wed, Sep 30, 2009
New Military Helo For Turkish Land Forces Command
The ATAK Team, comprising Turkish Aerospace Industries, Inc.
(TAI), Aselsan and AgustaWestland, is pleased to announce the
successful maiden flight of the first T129 prototype.
The T129 P1 prototype helicopter's maiden flight was
successfully completed by AgustaWestland and TAI test pilots during
an official ceremony held at AgustaWestland facilities in Vergiate,
Italy.
The ATAK Program was initiated with the aim to meet the 50 firm
and 41 optional Attack/Tactical Reconnaissance Helicopter
requirement of the Turkish Land Forces Command (TLF) by the
integration of high-tech avionic equipment, hardware and software
which will be developed locally.The program, in which the Turkish
aviation industry is fully involved in the design, development and
production phases, is running on time and on budget.
General Manager of TAI, Muharrem Dortkasli said: "It is a great
privilege to be here today to witness the first flight of the T129,
which will become the most advanced helicopter in its category, so
satisfying the requirements of the Land Forces as well as making it
very appealing to the international market. An international market
in which the Turkish industry will play a primary role. It has been
a long journey for us to come to this point. We are proud of the
success the ATAK Team has generated, a success which I am sure will
be followed by many others."
Giuseppe Orsi commented "It gives us great pleasure to celebrate
today the first flight of the most modern combat helicopter in the
world. This event sets a major milestone in our longstanding
partnership with Turkish industry and provides clear evidence of
how effective this collaboration has been in jointly developing a
state-of-the-art all customer-focused solution designed and brought
to life in an extraordinary timely manner. Today the Turkish
aviation industry enters a new era at the forefront of rotorcraft
technology. We are committed to further expanding such a successful
cooperation in the future."
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