Hot weather trials of 'Tejas' at Nagpur Air Force Station

Chandigarh, Jun 6 (UNI) To check operation of the Light Combat Aircraft 'Tejas' under high ambient temperature conditions of over 40 degrees Celsius, the aircraft underwent hot weather flight trials at Air Force Station, Nagpur recently.

According to a defence release issued here today, the trials were planned at Nagpur because of the city's high ambient temperature, representative of the stringent conditions the aircraft would be expected to operate in, after induction into the Indian Air Force.

The team which carried out the triaIs was a composite team with members from Indian Air Force (IAF), Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Centre for Military Airworthiness Certification (CEMILAC), Directorate General of Aeronautical Quality Assurance (DGAQA) with support from Air Force Station, Nagpur and Maintenance Command of IAF.

All aircraft systems, specifically the avionics system, flight control system and air conditioning system were tested extensively during the trials and functioned satisfactorily on ground as well in flight.

A total of seven flights of four hours duration were flown at Nagpur on two prototype aircraft PV2 and PV3. The tests included flights at 200 meters above the ground with a speed up to 1000 km/h after 'hot soaking' the aircraft on tarmac for 2 to 4 hours. During this 'hot soaking,' the aircraft skin temperature reached above 70 degrees. The test flights were monitored in real time using a mobile telemetry station of ADA, positioned at Nagpur for this purpose.

During the trial, a large amount of data was collected and is under detailed analysis by the aircraft designers at ADA and HAL.

The aircraft is now planned for delivering precision guided bombs in the deserts of Rajasthan, later this year.

UNI PS GL HT1722