The Nigerian Air Force Institute of Technology has stepped up efforts to produce the first locally manufactured light training aircraft.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Spokesperson of the Air Force Institute of Technology, Dr Bassey Okon, in a statement, said that the aggressive push of the institute to inaugurate the aircraft underscored the dream of the Nigerian Air Force to transform the aviation sector in the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When completed, Okon said the aircraft would have a capacity for two passengers, a maximum take-off mass of 850kg and a 5-hour operational flight time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He added that the production of the aircraft, which started with the students\u2019 design contest, artificial intelligence and robotics competition, and hackathon contest, among others, was in an advanced stage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He stated that the production was only awaiting the final stage before it would be tested and probably inaugurated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe aircraft was subsequently designed to meet a maximum take-off mass of 850 kg, a capacity for two passengers, a maximum payload mass of 40kg and a 10m wing span. It was to be powered by a Lycoming IO-360 engine and would have a maximum operational flight time of about 5 hours. It would be capable of a maximum forward speed of 120 knots and a range of 453 nautical miles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe aircraft is expected to have a maximum operational altitude of 10,000 ft and will feature state-of-the-art technology such as graphene material for coating structural components, an integrated vehicle health monitoring system and advanced avionics equipment,\u201d he noted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to Okon, the ALTA project is at an advanced stage as the aircraft production process has gone past the detailed design stage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe next phase of the project is the final manufacture, followed by testing. The parts have been assembled and the aircraft is in its final phase of production, including the infusion of all essential airframe and operational accessories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt is expected that with the focused research effort by the institute, it will not be long before Nigeria launches her first indigenous light trainer aircraft,\u201d Okon explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He, however, hoped that AFIT would be allowed to focus on the institution\u2019s focus of transforming the aviation industry in Nigeria \u201cand providing the needed technical support to the Nigerian Air Force operations. We look forward to welcoming Nigeria\u2019s first indigenous aircraft through the research efforts of AFIT. The future is here\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The spokesperson of the institute also expressed confidence in the renewed commitment of the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, and the Commandant of the Institute, Air Vice Marshal Sani Rabe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He remarked that the commitments of the duo had caused the project to make substantial progress, with significant resources expended to achieve those milestones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n