23.03.2010.
Prvi prototip borbenog helikoptera T129 koji je AgustaWestland razvila za potrebe turske vojske srušio se 19. marta tokom probnog leta. Italijanski pilot i pilot-tehničar su zbrinuti u lokalnoj bolnici zbog lakših povreda koje su pretrpeli. Prvi rezultati istrage govore da je došlo do otkaza repnog rotora tokom leta na oko 455 metara visine. Istraga će biti fokusirana na otkrivanje uzroka ovog otkaza.
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Ovaj udes će najverovatnije pomeriti vremenske rokove postavljene pred projekat vredan 3 milijarde dolara. Ugovor za projekat koji je dobio naziv ATAK i baziran je na helikopteru A129 Mangusta, je potpisan 2008. godine, a prvi prototip, P1, poleteo je u septembru 2009. godine. Turska je za sada naručila 50 leetlica ovog tipa, a isporuke su trebale da počnu 2013. godine, dok postoji mogućnost da Turska naruči još 41 helikopter ovog tipa.
AgustaWestland će napraviti prototipove u Italiji, dok će proizvodnja biti smeštena u Turskoj fabrici TAI. Helikopter će biti opremljen turskom elektronikom, FLIR-om, avioniku u kokpitu kao i računar će proizvoditi turska kompanija Aselsan, dok će oružne sisteme proizvoditi Roketsan.
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Turkey's first T129 attack helicopter crashes
By Tolga Ozbek
The first prototype of AgustaWestland's T129 attack helicopter being developed for Turkey crashed on the afternoon of 19 March during a test flight, leaving its Italian test pilot and its test engineer needing hospital treatment for minor injuries.
Early indications point to a loss of power to the tail rotor while flying at an elevation of 1,500ft (455m) near Verbania in northern Italy. Investigation of the incident will focus on establishing the exact cause of the power failure.
The $3 billion ATAK project, based on the A129 Mangusta, is likely to be delayed because of the crash. The deal was signed in 2008, and the first prototype, P1, made its first flight in September 2009. Turkey has ordered 50 production T129s for delivery from 2013 and has options on another 41.
AgustaWestland will make two T129 prototypes in Italy, after which manufacture will shift to its Turkish partner TAI. The aircraft will be equipped with Turkish-made systems including electronics, forward-looking infrared sensor, cockpit avionics and mission computer from Aselsan, and weapon systems from Roketsan.
Izvor: Flightglobal
