Following the THK-11, the company then tried its luck with a design to meet a requirement by the local airlines, for a 12-passenger regional airliner. The THK-12 was to be powered by two 550 hp Pratt & Whitnet Wasp radial-engines. However other projects meant the design was put on hold in 1950. Its next design, like the THK-11 went back to the innovative area. The THK-13 actually preceded the THK-11 and made its first flight a year earlier in 1949. It was a wooden all-wing glider, very similar to the Armstrong-Whitworth AW.52 in configuration. it featured a single main wheel beneath the cockpit and outrigger wheels attached to the bottom of the twin vertical control surfaces mounted three-quraters of the way down the wings. The gliding ration of the THK-13 was 1:22 and it had a minimum descent rate of 177 ft/min (0.9m/sec) at 37 mph (60 km/h). It had a wingspan of 65 ft 7 1/2 in (20.00m) and a gross wing area of 430.56 sq ft (40.00m2). Empty and loaded weights were 948 lb (430kg) and 1,146 lb (520kg) respectively. The THK-13 was expected to eventually be powered by a Gypsy Major of 145 hp. However these plans did not come to fruition. The companys last three designs were the THK-14 two-seat sailplane, the THK-15 all-metal tandem two-seat trainer, very similar to the DHC-1 and also powered by a Gypsy Major of 145hp, like its Canadian forebear, and the last was the THK-16. This was an all-metal jet trainer with a tandem seating arrangement and was given the name Mehmetçek, which roughly translates to little soldier. Initially power was to have come from two Turbomeca Pimene turbojets, but it was envisaged that these would be replaced by two of the more powerful Palas in production examples. Maximum speed was to be in the region of 270 mph (430 km/h) with a range of 440 miles (710 km) being estimated. Maximum altitude was to be 12,000 m. Dimensions of the aircraft were to be length: 23 ft 0 in (7m), wingspan: 32 ft 10 in (10 m). Empty weight was to be 1,120 lb (510 kg) with a MTOW of 2,420 lb (1100kg). Unfortunately, despite the obvious advantage of being an indigenous product, the air force, decided to turn to the US for its supply of jet trainers, in the shape of the T-33 and later the T-37. The loss of this order led to THK being sold in 1952 to MKEK. Here is the THK-13 glider.
Posted on: Tue, 08 Jul 2014 02:45:17 +0000
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