First home-made chopper takes into sky next January

HAZLA OMAR in Arusha

NEARLY two years after hatching the project here, trial flights of the first Tanzanian manufactured helicopter will be witnessed next month.

The Deputy Rector of the state-run, Arusha Technical College (ATC), Dr Erick Mgaya, explained that experts have swapped engines from the original Germany made Volkswagen motor into the new hybrid multipurpose engine from Japan, which can be fitted in the chopper and in any car.

Dr Mgaya was briefing Deputy Minister for Education, Science and Technology William Ole Nasha who over the weekend toured ATC, which initiated the maiden helicopter making project.

The Deputy Minister lauded the initiative, saying it complimented President John Magufuli’s industrial drive. “We expect to fly the helicopter for trial take-offs next January,” confirmed Engineer Abdi Mjema, the expert behind the chopper project at the college, adding that ATC has received approvals from all relevant authorities to make the maiden trial flights next year.

The idea to devise the helicopter built from scratch in Arusha using locally sourced materials, was early last year hatched by two mechanical experts at ATC -- Engineers Adisai Msongole and Abdi Mjema.

“We had initially intended the helicopter with two-seating capacity to be used for surveillance, rescue missions and agriculture but as the project takes shape we may increase the airframes to carry more people for serious transportation,” explained Engineer Mjema.

The Helicopter ‘Made by ATC in Arusha,’ is currently over 80 per cent complete though it initially started with the popular gasoline powered VW flat engine on board, manufactured by Volkswagen in Germany, which was the same engine used to power the Robinson Helicopters in the United States, but now the builders have opted for another larger motor.

The ATC chopper is designed with a non-pressurized cabin, it started with a projected flying ceiling of 400 feet for starters. Most commercial choppers can fly up to 8,000 feet above sea level.

How many choppers can the Arusha Technical College manufacture in a year once the project goes mainstream? “It will depend on the demand, but with serious work, we can roll out up to 20 helicopters, annually,” boasted the engineer.