(Video of NP-2 carrying out fuel jettison tests)
By Anantha Krishnan M
This is virtually a back-to-back campaign for the NLCA team, considering they only finished the previous trials at the end of April. The detachment includes scientists and engineers from Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) and Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL). The current trials began on May 21 and are expected to continue through this week.
“The night trials are critical for the project. This is for the first time that both NP-1 and NP-2 are undertaking night operations from SBTF. Both have done extensive night trials from normal runways,” says an official.
So far both platforms have carried out four sorties with the time duration ranging from 25 to 30 minutes.
“It’s important that we complete these sets of trials before Monsoon sets in. Pre-Monsoon winds are favourable for undertaking the tests. We are also fine-tuning some of the parameters we have tested in April. Ahead of the current campaign, both platforms underwent some stress analysis tests in Bengaluru,” says the official. @OneIndia
* Fuel jettison test done in April
* Radar and data link too tested
* Hot refueling routinely carried out
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