T625, a general-purpose helicopter developed by Turkish Aerospace (TUSAŞ) with the goal of meeting the needs of the Turkish Armed Forces and other authorities with a unique platform, made its first flight on the 6th of September 2018.ü
The name of Turkey’s first domestic and national helicopter, T625, was announced as Gökbey by the Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan during a ceremony on December 12, 2018.ü
The TS1400 Turboshaft engine, which was developed by TUSAŞ Engine Industries Inc. (TEI) and which will power Gökbey, was successfully tested on the 4th of January 2019.ü
Able to operate effectively in night and day conditions at high altitude and high temperatures in the most challenging climates and geographies, the Gökbey helicopter made its first certification flight on June 29, 2019. The 45-minute flight marked another important stage in the project.ü
Within the scope of the indigenous helicopter program, software design and the production of critical systems such as transmission systems, rotors and landing gears, as well as structural and avionic systems were carried out entirely using national resources.ü
Due to its capability to carry out a wide range of missions, the helicopter will be able to carry out transport, VIP, Cargo, Air Ambulance, search and rescue and offshore transport missions.
A gearbox subcontractor agreement was signed between TEI and Alp Aviation on November 22, 2019, as a part of the TS1400 turboshaft engine development project to powerüGökbey.
TEI and TEKFEN Engineering signed a contract on June 24, 2020 for the test infrastructures to be established within the scope of the Turboshaft engine development project, which has been carried out for the production of the parts to be used in Gökbey’s engine.
Gökbey is projected to complete certification flight test and go into mass production 2021.ü