The countdown has started for the first flight of Arikopter's prototype which is designed by Istanbul Tech. University and built by TUSAS (TAI), under the support of State Planning Organization.
.... " Since the start, the project has been a subjact for 15 international articles, over a 100 international reports and 40 Master's thesis. A team of 60 people have worked on it since it started in 2002 by ITU.
... It is to be completed next year. The integration of main and infrastructure to the body frame are being carried on in TUSAS at the moment. Transmision ground test are to be started next month in Istanbul. After completing the certification period, the helicopter would be produced for many different utilities, such as education, health, media, business and diplomatic purposes.
Arikopter takes two pilots and six passengers, the rotor has a diagraqm of 11m, and it weighs two tons. National partners are TAI/TUSAS, ASELSAN, 5ABM, DEMETEK and PETEKSAN, Foreign partners are Turbomeca, Triumph, MVEN and AVIA.
