June 23 - Volga-Dnepr Airlines has delivered a prototype of the Turkish T129 attack helicopter onboard an IL-76TD-90VD cargo flight from Ankara to Berlin, before transporting it back to Turkey.
Loading the 13 m long helicopter into the Ilyushin's cargo hold using hoists required the removal of the T129's rotor blades, vertical stabiliser, wing and detachable equipment.
The rear chassis of the helicopter was also removed and replaced by a special chassis for the transportation, reducing the height of the helicopter from 3.4 m to 3.17 m.
All of the components that were removed to facilitate the loading process were transported to the destination onboard the same IL-76TD-90VD freighter.
The helicopter prototype was delivered to Germany in order to be presented at the ILA-2014 Berlin Air Show, which took place at the Berlin ExpoCenter Airport.
The flights there and back were operated on behalf of Air Charter Service (ACS) in Turkey.
