Pune: Agroup of Research and Development (R&D) scientists in Dighi has played a vital role in developing the naval version of the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), which successfully conducted a test flight at INS Hansa in Goa. The fourth-plus generation aircraft, designed to operate from the decks of aircraft carriers, took off from the skijump facility of the shore-based test facility (SBTF) at the centre.
"A special flight control mode allows handsfree take-off, as the aircraft leaps from the ramp before taking an ascending trajectory. The successful maiden launch of the LCA is testimony to the tremendous efforts made by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) scientists and engineers in designing the aircraft as well as the flight test team that timed the event to near perfection," said a senior official of Directorate of Public Interface, DRDO headquarters, New Delhi.
"It is a collaborative work of DRDO laboratories. But since the R&D has acquired expertise in ground system engineering for all major weapons programmes, they have provided SBTF facility, which is very crucial," said a senior DRDO scientist.
LCA-Navy is the second ski take off but arrested recovery (STOBAR) carrier-borne aircraft in the world, after a Russian deck-based aircraft. And, it will be the only carrier-borne fighter aircraft in the LCA category. The test flight comes more than two years after the aircraft completed its maiden flight on April 27, 2012. US Navy, too, audited the aircraft in its initial stages.
23/12/14 Pune Mirror
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"A special flight control mode allows handsfree take-off, as the aircraft leaps from the ramp before taking an ascending trajectory. The successful maiden launch of the LCA is testimony to the tremendous efforts made by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) scientists and engineers in designing the aircraft as well as the flight test team that timed the event to near perfection," said a senior official of Directorate of Public Interface, DRDO headquarters, New Delhi.
"It is a collaborative work of DRDO laboratories. But since the R&D has acquired expertise in ground system engineering for all major weapons programmes, they have provided SBTF facility, which is very crucial," said a senior DRDO scientist.
LCA-Navy is the second ski take off but arrested recovery (STOBAR) carrier-borne aircraft in the world, after a Russian deck-based aircraft. And, it will be the only carrier-borne fighter aircraft in the LCA category. The test flight comes more than two years after the aircraft completed its maiden flight on April 27, 2012. US Navy, too, audited the aircraft in its initial stages.
23/12/14 Pune Mirror
