Kaveri undergoes more flight trials in Russia

Kaveri's flight trial campaign is on at GFRI in Russia: Photo: Copyright@Tarmak007

| By Anantha Krishnan M. | AVIATION WEEK |

Bangalore |  India | November 23, 2010 |

India’s Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) and Russia’s Gromov Flight Research Institute (GFRI) have conducted more flight trials of India’s Kaveri engine on a modified Flying Test Bed (FTB) IL-76 transport aircraft.

Mohan Rao, director of the Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE) in Bangalore, told Aviation Week that flight data analysis from the first flight on Nov. 3 was submitted to GFRI officials, who presented a detailed report to Russia’s Ministry of Industries.

“Based on this report, we got the clearances for further flights. We had the second flight after a week for more than an hour in very similar conditions to the first flight,” Mohan said. “The engine was inspected again and all flight parameters were analyzed. During the second flight, we went up to 5 km. at 0.6 Mach and 4 km. at 0.4 Mach. We need to study the engine data and combustion stability.”

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Science & spirituality: GTRE Director chants Gayatri Mantra during Kaveri's maiden flight at GFRI in Russia!

 Photo 1, 2 show the IL-76 with Kaveri during its take-off and landing on November 3, 2010. The remaining photos taken during Kaveri's flight trial campaign in Russia. The last 2 pics are at GTRE Bangalore. Photos: Copyright@Tarmak007 

Scientists are superstitious. Especially when the going gets tough, you need all the luck under the Sun to hit the Bulls Eye. This piece brings to you some dressing room stories, when DRDO’s Kaveri engine created history in Russia.
Kaveri fitted on to IL-76 – the modified Flying Test Bed (FTB) – had its successful maiden flight at Gromov Flight Research Institute (GFRI) on November 3, 2010. For over a decade or so, GTRE scientists faced a lot of criticism from the government agencies, Services, defense watchdogs, media and self-styled engine experts, for not delivering what was promised. 
The Kaveri engine thus became a joke and GRTE soon became a forgotten lab. And, India’s super-pride plane program – LCA – too moved ahead with a paradesi heart. “Yes, we had to face many challenges. While the world was laughing at us, we were putting that extra mile to make the engine fly. We admit the delays, but it’s unfair to forget our struggle and not to recognize our achievement,” says Mohan Rao, Director, GTRE. 
At the just-concluded Aviation Conclave 2010 in Hyderabad DRDO Chief Dr V.K. Saraswat said that DRDO branding will happen only with excellence. And, he ensured to pat Mohan and his boys at every opportunity he got during the conclave. While history was created, Mohan was tensed and was in the company of his colleagues waiting anxiously at GFRI. 
“This was the moment of my life. I prayed to God. I have done everything. My team has done. Now, the flight is about to take-off. I chanted the Gayatri Mantra. I was continuously chanting the mantra. I shouted… Take-off, take-off… The Russian friends screamed Athleshna (excellent),” Mohan Rao, said.
Many mails came to Tarmak007 asking why the DRDO failed to celebrate Kaveri’s maiden flight, the way it ought to have. A point there, considering what the DRDO and GTRE had to undergo over Kaveri.One definitely needs to salute the spirit of GTRE scientists, who toiled hard to make Kaveri fly. 
May be, the need of the hour is more Gayatri mantras for the road ahead!

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