Light Combat Helicopter clears critical hot weather trials

Bengaluru, June 26: Bengaluru, June 26: Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) on Friday said that its home-grown Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) completed hot weather trials.

The one-week long trials were held at Jodhpur measuring a series of parameters. HAL Chairman T Suvarna Raju told OneIndia that the trials were crucial as the programme is inching towards Initial Operational Clearance (IOC) phase.
Interestingly, during the tests, expert pilots from the Indian Air Force and the Indian Army were present. Representatives of certification teams were also present.

"The test flights were carried out in the temperature range of 39 to 42 degree Celsius," says Raju.
HAL says the third technology demonstrator (TD-3) of LCH, 3 was ferried from Bengaluru to Jodhpur for the trials.

Following are some of the key features tested during the trials:

* Temperature survey of engine bay
* Temperature survey of hydraulic system
* Assessment of performance of helicopter
* Verifying the handling qualities and loads at different AUWs (all up weights)
* Checking low-speed handling capabilities
* Capturing the height-velocity diagram establishment

As reported by OneIndia earlier, the LCH had completed cold weather flight testing at Leh in February this year. The chopper was HAL's star attraction during Aero India 2015.

HAL claims that the chopper would receive its IOC by end of this year and subsequently enter series production.
HAL has also set aside Rs 126 crore for the fourth sibling of LCH (TD-4) to propel the testing phase.

Some of the key LCH features

* A twin- engine with in the 5.8-ton class
* Powered by two Shakti engine
* Can carry out dedicated combat roles
* Best suited for air defence, anti-tank roles
* Perfect for combat search and rescue missions
* Loaded with advanced military technology features
* Narrow fuselage with tandem seating configuration
* Incorporates a number of stealth features
* Crashworthy landing gear
* Armour protection for better survivability

OneIndia News