Turkey’s first domestic basic trainer aircraft starts flying

Hürkus, the first domestic basic trainer and ground attack aircraft developed for the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK), has made its first flight, in Ankara’s Kazan district. A variety of tests have been performed on the Hürkus, including those covering the engine, take-off, night flight and the fuel system, and the Hürkus was deemed ready to operate.

Manufactured by TUSAS, the Hürkus can fly up to a speed of 574 kilometres an hour. It has a maximum stall speed of 143 kilometres an hour in landing configuration. The maximum service ceiling of the jet is 10,577 kilometres. The Hürkus jet can fly at 15,000 feet for a stretch of four hours 15 minutes and has a 1,600-horsepower engine. The aircraft also has a system for producing oxygen for pilots while flying.

The jet takes its name from Vecihi Hürkus, one of the first civil aviators of the Turkish republican era.