Photos 1& 2: LCA LSP-4 before and during the maiden flight. Photo 3: Grp Capt Suneet Krishna of NFTC. Photos: ADA & t-arch-2010
By Anantha Krishnan M. | Aviation Week
Bangalore, India | June 02, 2010
The fourth limited series production (LSP-4) platform of India’s
light combat aircraft (LCA) Tejas had its successful first flight at
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited’s military airport in Bangalore on June 2. The
flight, piloted by Group Capt. Suneet Krishna of the National Flight
Test Center (NFTC), lasted 40 minutes. The pilot went supersonic and
later recovered the full flight envelope, exhibiting confidence in the
system.
Vice
Chief of IAF Air Marshal P.K. Barbora told AVIATION WEEK that the first
flight of LSP-4 is “one step forward” in the project. “As
you move along in a program, you will overcome problems quickly. Now
the LSP-5, 6 and 7 will come,” he said. “It’s a proud moment and we are
also keenly awaiting the arrival of LCA Mk-II in the years to come,
which will be an advanced platform.” Program Director
(Combat Aircraft) and Director, Aeronautics Development Agency (ADA)
P.S. Subramanyam told AVIATION WEEK that the project is moving toward
IOC. HAL Chairman Ashok Nayak
told AVIATION WEEK that the successful flights of LSP-3 and LSP-4 in
quick succession are an indication of the accelerated pace at which the
program is now being run.
