Secretary of Defence Industry Secretariat (SSB) Professor Halık Görgün Stated that Turkish Aerospace’s indigenous fighter aircraft KAAN performed its second flight today, 75 days after its maiden flight. He declared that the aircraft took-off at 8.46 in the morning, flew for 14 minutes and reached an altitude of 10 000 feet. The interval between two flights gives many hints about the aircraft. The “health” of aircraft is measured from telemetry room in the facility. The aircraft is equipped with various sensors to measure actual data received during the flight. The data received during the flight is analysed during the flight. More data is received from aircraft following its landing.
The data is analysed after the flight to understand better how the systems functioned. There are some questions need to be answered: Whether there was any malfunction during the flight? How systems functioned? Is there any need for major improvement for the moment. What kind of improvements are required and when? The aircraft is prepared for the following flight according to the analyses reached from the data. The interval between two flights are usually more than two months at such complex systems. It can be extended as much as it requires. However, the duration gives hints about the current situation. A second flight 75 days after very first one indicates that the aircraft makes the progress as planned and there is no urgently required alteration on the design. KAAN performed its maiden flight on February 21st,2024 in Ankara. The aircraft took off from Akıncı Air Base, next to Turkish Aerospace (TUSAŞ) facilities in Kahramankazan, Ankara. The aircraft, escorted by the Turkish fighter jet F-16, performed its maiden flight around the airfield. The first flight lasted 13 minutes and was limited with a tour around the airfield. It flew at the speed of 230 knots.
