Deliveries of Super Mushshak trainer aircraft to Turkish Air Force commence
The first three Super Mushshak aircraft for Turkey's air force arrived at Yalova on 31 October. (Photo: Turkish MoD)
The Turkish Air Force has taken delivery of the first three of 52 Super Mushshak trainer aircraft ordered under a 2017 contract with Pakistan following delays imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Turkish Defence Ministry announced via Twitter on 31 October that Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) has delivered three MFI-17 Super Mushshak training aircraft to the Turkish Air Force (TurAF) command.
'The acceptance of three Super Mushshak aircraft... under the Initial Trainer Aircraft Project has been completed and included in the inventory of our Air Force Command at Yalova Airport Command.” said the Turkish MoD in the announcement.
These aircraft were delivered to Turkish Aerospace for acceptance tests, and transported to Yalova on completion of the trials.
The project agreement for the trainer aircraft was signed at the IDEF event in 2017. The goal was for delivery to begin in June 2020. However, the process was delayed due to the coronavirus outbreak. PAC will now deliver a total of 52 aircraft to the TurAF over a two-year period.
This agreement was a milestone in Turkish-Pakistani defence relations at the time, and cooperation has since been further expanded.
The aircraft's design is based on the Saab MFI-15. Pakistan purchased rights to the aircraft, which first flew in the 1970s. Pakistan Aeronautical Complex later developed the aircraft, which was given the designation MFI-17.
The Super Mushshak (''Agile') is a lightweight, two/three-seat, single-engine, predominantly metal aircraft with fixed, non-retractable tricycle landing gear. It can operate from short, unprepared runways. It features a 260hp piston engine, glass cockpit options, an environmental control system and dual trim systems for elevator and rudder.
The Turkish Air Force will replace Italian-designed SF-260 trainers with Super Mushshaks, and will be the 12th user of this aircraft type worldwide.
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