The second prototype of the Light Utility Helicopter (LUH PT-2) completed its maiden flight at the premises of state-owned aviation major, Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) here on Monday.
Coming close on the heels of the maiden flight of HTT-40 (PT-2), the helicopter's first flight was flown by Chief Test Pilot Wing Cdr (Retd) Unni K Pillai and Test Pilot Wing Cdr (Retd) Anil Bhambhani. The flight duration was 22 minutes. Both the pilots reported zero snag.
HAL chairman and managing director T Suvarna Raju said the maiden flights of the two aircraft were part of the company's progress towards ‘Make in India’ campaign both in fixed and rotary wing segments. These prototypes add strength to ongoing test flights to achieve operational clearance cutting the time frame, he said.
The LUH PT2 has modified tail boom and incorporates improvements based on feedback from testing of LUH PT1. The first flight of LUH PT1 was carried out on September 6, 2016 andfurther envelope expansion flights are in progress.
LUH PT-1 had made its flight demonstration during the international air show Aero India-2017 held in February.
HAL has proposed to carry out further flight testing on PT1 and PT2 in the months ahead to freeze the helicopter configuration by the end of this year. Senior officials from HAL, representatives from the Indian Air Force and Army were present during the flight.
The LUH is a three-ton class new generation helicopter being indigenously developed by HAL to meet the requirements of both military and civil operators. The helicopter, with glass cockpit, will be deployed for reconnaissance, surveillance roles and as a light transport helicopter.
24/05/17 Deccan Herald
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Coming close on the heels of the maiden flight of HTT-40 (PT-2), the helicopter's first flight was flown by Chief Test Pilot Wing Cdr (Retd) Unni K Pillai and Test Pilot Wing Cdr (Retd) Anil Bhambhani. The flight duration was 22 minutes. Both the pilots reported zero snag.
HAL chairman and managing director T Suvarna Raju said the maiden flights of the two aircraft were part of the company's progress towards ‘Make in India’ campaign both in fixed and rotary wing segments. These prototypes add strength to ongoing test flights to achieve operational clearance cutting the time frame, he said.
The LUH PT2 has modified tail boom and incorporates improvements based on feedback from testing of LUH PT1. The first flight of LUH PT1 was carried out on September 6, 2016 andfurther envelope expansion flights are in progress.
LUH PT-1 had made its flight demonstration during the international air show Aero India-2017 held in February.
HAL has proposed to carry out further flight testing on PT1 and PT2 in the months ahead to freeze the helicopter configuration by the end of this year. Senior officials from HAL, representatives from the Indian Air Force and Army were present during the flight.
The LUH is a three-ton class new generation helicopter being indigenously developed by HAL to meet the requirements of both military and civil operators. The helicopter, with glass cockpit, will be deployed for reconnaissance, surveillance roles and as a light transport helicopter.
24/05/17 Deccan Herald
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