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DATE:27/10/10
SOURCE:Flight International
PICTURES: Turkish air force to receive first KT-1 trainers
By Tolga Ozbek
The Turkish air force will begin replacing its Cessna T-37 jet trainers with Korea Aerospace Industries' KT-1 next month, with the new type now undergoing flight testing.
Ankara is to receive 40 KT-1s under a deal signed in June 2007, with the first five to be completed by KAI.
The remainder will be produced under licence at Turkish Aerospace Industries' Akinci facility.
A first batch of three South Korean-built aircraft are being flight-tested by TAI, and should be delivered in late November, the company says.
Turkey's undersecretary of defence industries procurement agency is in talks with KAI to remove an option for a further 15 KT-1s from the programme.
Meanwhile, TAI will roll out its first flight test example of Turkey's indigenous "Hurkus" basic trainer in January.
The turboprop-powered aircraft should make its flight debut late in 2011.
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