Tanzania beats Malawi again: Chopper made in TZ set to fly

Advertisement
Tanzanian choppers

Tanzanian President John Magufuli continues to inspire his countrymen as the East African country has started making helicopters that will take to the skies in 2018.

According to reports, a Tanzanian technical college has made a two seater chopper which is in its final stages of production and will start flying trials once granted permission by the Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority.

The programme was initiated by the Arusha Technical College, department of Mechanical and Engineering with the aim of producing choppers that will be available to Tanzanians at affordable prices.

Tanzanian choppers
Tanzanian choppers-ready to fly.

“We are complementing President Magufuli’s industrialisation policy in pioneering the first locally made helicopters that will be available to ordinary residents at affordable prices,” explained the man behind the ATC chopper project, Engineer Abdi Mjema.

The project began two months ago but now the chassis and the airframe for the first chopper are ready, the craft is expected to be ready in three weeks’ time.

“Once we get the aviation authority approval, we shall complete the most sensitive part of the helicopter mounting the main rotor,” said the engineer.

The college says when it gets a green light from Tanzanian authorities, it will be able to manufacture 20 choppers a year.