MFI-395 Super Mushshak is a military trainer / light attack aircraft designed and manufactured by the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) for the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) and the Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF). It was derived from the MFI-17 Mushshak trainer aircraft. Approximately 300 MFI-395s are currently operational at the academies of the Pakistan Armed Forces.
Previous orders to the PAF, RSAF and Royal Air Force of Oman
Customer orders for the MFI-395 included: PAF (50), RSAF (20) and Royal Air Force of Oman (five).
The PAF received its first Super Mushshak in May 2001. Deliveries to the Royal Air Force of Oman were concluded in 2004.
Designed to suit military and civilian missions
The MFI-395 was designed to provide primary flight training to the pilots of the PAF Academy situated at Risalpur. It was designed to suit both military and civilian missions. The aircraft’s design is compliant with the US FAR 23 certification standards in aerobatics and utility classes.
The tricycle type undercarriage allows the aircraft to operate from unprepared airstrips and rough airfields, even in hostile conditions.
Pakistan’s MFI-395 training aircraft development
The development of the MFI-395 started in 1995. The aircraft was built by upgrading the MFI-17 with an advanced 260hp engine, electrical instruments, dual flight control systems and a Bendix RSA fuel injection system.
The maiden flight of the Super Mushshak took place in August 1996. The production aircraft was rolled out in November 2000. It entered service in May 2001 and was certified by the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority in 2002.
It was displayed at the Dubai Air Show held in November 2011.
Features and spacious cockpit of the MFI-395 Super Mushshak
The MFI-395 features a high wing monoplane design. It boasts two integral fuel tanks which carry 47 gallons of fuel. The large baggage compartment located aft of the cockpit can be easily accessed through a door on the rear side of the fuselage.
The Super Mushshak is equipped with a blind screen, which allows the aircraft to carry out instrument flying missions.
The spacious glass cockpit of the MFI-395 accommodates two flight crew members, a student pilot and a flight instructor. It is integrated with two ejection seats adjacent to each other, with an option for third seat at the rear side. It is enclosed by an oval shaped glass canopy which opens upwards to meliorate the visibility.
The cockpit is equipped with two multifunctional displays to exhibit data related to navigation, flight instrumentation, fuel and the engine. It is also equipped with an Enviro R-134 air conditioning system to sustain constant temperature.
Avionics installed on the military trainer / light attack aircraft
The avionics suite incorporated in the MFI-395 includes instrument flight rules (IFR) capable electronic flight instrumentation system (EFIS), a global positioning system, instrument landing system, voice over recorder, UHF radio, automatic direction finder, distance measuring equipment and information friend or foe transponder.
Missiles and gunpods of the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex’s aircraft
The MFI-395 is fitted with six hardpoints under the wing pylons. The inner two stressed hardpoints can carry up to 150kg each. The remaining four carry rockets, gunpods and Bofor Bantam anti-tank missiles.
Lycoming engines and performance of PAC’s MFI-395 Super Mushshak
The MFI-395 is powered by Lycoming IO-540 V4A5 six-cylinder engine rated at 194kW (260hp) of output power. The engine is driven by a two-bladed Hartzell propeller which can rotate at a constant speed of 2,700rpm.
The dry weight of the engine is 199kg. The time between overhaul is 2,000 hours.
The MFI-395 can climb at the rate of 8.6m/s. The never exceed and maximum speeds of the aircraft are 363km/h and 268km/h respectively. The cruise speed is 240km/h. The stall speed is 96km/h. The maximum range and service ceiling are 814km and 6.7km respectively. The maximum endurance is 4 hours 15 minutes.
The Global Military Aircraft Market 2011-2021
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