Farnborough: Turkish Aerospace Industries believes HURKUS is the trainer of the future

The Hurkus is a two-seat, single-engine turboprop aircraft being developed from the KAI KT-1 trainer. It is being built principally to meet the requirements of the Turkish Air Force Command (TAF). The aircraft will be used to execute basic pilot training, instrument flying, navigation training, and weapons and formation training missions. 

The Hurkus, which is named after Vecihi Hurkus – a Turkish pilot and aeronautical engineer from 1896-1969 - will also be exported as a civilian and military flight trainer aircraft. 

The development programme became effective with the agreement signed between the Undersecretariat at Defense Industries and Turkish Aerospace Industries in March 2006.

Muharrem Dortkasli, president and CEO said: “Hurkus is going to have night and day mission capability. With this aircraft, contact and familiarisation, instrument flight, navigation and formation phases will be realised.” 

Within the framework of the programme, two aircraft configurations are being developed. Hurkus A – A basic version to be certified by EASA according to CS-23 requirements, and Hurkus B – an advanced version with integrated avionics. 

The Hurkus will perform at a maximum crusie speed of 574km/h, with a maximum endurance (at 15,000 feet) of 4 hours 15 minutes, and a total maximum range (at 15,000 feet) of 1478km.

The first flight is expected to take place in April 2013.