First arrested-landing of Naval LCA successful

Read: bit.ly/2kg2HSe

Arrested recovery landing next big test for NLCA

By Anantha Krishnan M

https://twitter.com/writetake

Bengaluru, May 28: With the ongoing pre-Monsoon trials for the naval version of Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) entering its last lap, the designers would now shift their focus towards the maiden arrested recovery landing missions (post-Monsoon), at INS Hansa in Goa.

While the current campaign is scheduled to end next week, sources confirm to Mathrubhumi that the prototypes would be now readied for arrester hook landing trials from the Shore Based Test Facility (SBTF), on their return to Bengaluru.

“Extensive data has been gathered so far and these would be analysed by various system groups. We would assess whether any changes need to be incorporated on the prototypes. Later, arrester hook will be installed on NP2. We have already carried out the Ground Vibration Test (GVT) and Structural Coupling Test (SCT),” an official said.

At Bengaluru, based on the flight test data, scientists have already conducted wind tunnel tests for different combinations of LEVCON (Leading Edge Vortex Controller) and Slats to obtain optimum configuration.

“Structural Test Specimen (STS) tests have already been carried out on the specially-built Main Airframe Static Test (MAST) created at Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL). The limit loads for high sink rate and full arrester hook loads have been successfully tested. This is an important precursor for the taxi-in engagement at the SBTF,” says the official. @Mathrubhumi

* Ski-jump launches no more a major challenge

* NLCA launches done with R-73 missiles

Full report, here: http://bit.ly/1sDHGPH

Moon-lit Mission for naval LCA at SBTF in Goa

By Anantha Krishnan M

https://twitter.com/writetake

Bengaluru, May 25: Military minds propelling India’s naval fighter jet programme from Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) and Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) had a successful ‘Moon-lit Mission’ at INS Hansa (Goa) recently.

Officials who are part of the ongoing maiden night trials of naval Light Combat Aircraft (NLCA), at the Shore Based Test Facility (SBTF) in Goa, told Mathrubhumi on Wednesday that the maiden night flight of NP-2 (Naval Prototype), a fighter, was planned on a Full Moon Day.

“The first night sortie for NLCA was carried out on May 21 from the normal runway on a Full Moon Day. The Moon was shining at its best on the day when the pilot was tasked to evaluate the cockpit performance. The first night ski-jump from SBTF was carried out the next day (May 22),” an official said. 

For Test Pilots world over, the Moon plays a key role during their practice night sorties, a fact well-researched and documented by Institute of Aerospace Medicine, a key wing of Indian Air Force, situated in Bengaluru.

“Night flying is a different ball game all together. And, especially for a naval platform it becomes really critical considering the challenging environment, when operating from a carrier. Light is a critical component during flight operations in night for a fighter. The pilot need to adapt to different facets of light and darkness,” says the official. Mathrubhumi

* Disorientation fears overcome during first flight

Full report here: http://bit.ly/20zrtWK

Video of NLCA maiden night flight from SBTF

NLCA platforms begin night flying from SBTF in Goa

(Video of NP-2 carrying out fuel jettison tests)

By Anantha Krishnan M

https://twitter.com/writetake

Bengaluru, May 24: The naval prototypes of Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) – NP-1 (trainer) and NP-2 (fighter) – have begun their night flying activities for the first time from the Shore Based Test Facility (SBTF) at INS Hansa in Goa.

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

Full report here: http://bit.ly/1RmJvoI

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#PlaneCarnival | NLCA taking shape...

Here's a comprehensive report of mine on India's NLCA programme, appeared in the latest issue of Aeromag Asia.

NLCA NP-1 outperformed our expectations, says ADA

 By Dr Anantha Krishnan M

https://twitter.com/writetake

Bengaluru, Feb 09: The first prototype (NP-1) of the Naval Light Combat Aircraft (NLCA), which had a ski-take off from the Shore Based Test Facility (SBTF) in INS Hansa in Goa on December 20, 2014, outperformed the expectations of its designers and engineers. In an exclusive interview to OneIndia, his first after the historic flight of NP-1, NLCA Programme Director Cmde C D Balaji (Retd) said that NP-1 gifted a ‘welcome bonus’ at SBTF.

“There are many uncertainties and potential surprises when you attempt something for the first time. We had built in a detail plan after looking into all major possibilities of a failure. Accordingly, we wanted to have a minimum climb angle of 5.7 degrees during the first attempt,” Balaji told OneIndia ahead of the forthcoming Aero India 2015.

With Lady Luck finally giving company to the NLCA designers at Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), the NP-1’s performance seems to have lifted the spirits of the entire team.

* There more prototypes to be added to flight-line

* NP-1 to undergo minor changes

* Critical observations from the last trials 

* More action lined up in Goa from March

Read the full report on OneIndia that went live on 09 Feb 2015: http://bit.ly/1IA98En

Navy Chief meets NLCA heroes | NP-2 all set for maiden flight

Navy Chief Admiral R K Dhowan with the heroes of NLCA project Cmde C D Balaji (Retd) Project Director LCA (Navy), extreme left, and Commodore Jaideep Maolankar, extreme right, the pilot who undertook the historic ski-jump of NP-1 from SBTF, Goa.
(Below) Balaji and Maolankar.  Photos: Tarmak007

Navy Chief Admiral R K Dhowan on Saturday met with the Naval LCA team from Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) and congratulated them for the recent successful NP-1 trials in Goa. The NLCA had its maiden flight from the Shore-Based Test Facility (SBTF) in Goa, thereby crossing a critical milestone.

The Navy Chief interacted with Cmde C D Balaji (Retd) Project Director LCA (Navy) and Commodore Jaideep Maolankar, the pilot who undertook the historic ski-jump of NP-1 from SBTF. Later speaking to OneIndia, Cmde Balaji (Retd) said that the second prototype of NLCA (NP-2) will soon have its maiden flight.

“We are done with most of the tests barring a few. We are hopeful that the NP-2 will have its first flight within a weeks’ time,” Cmde Balaji (Retd) told OneIndia. 

Read the detailed story on OneIndia, here: http://bit.ly/1AAZ6vD

From #NLCA #NP1 recent SBTF trial | Pix: ADA

NLCA NP1 completes first successful take-off from SBTF

Stand-by for a detailed story.

Top LCA-Navy team in Russia; project review of SBTF (Goa) with Rosoborenexport underway

By Anantha Krishnan M. | Aviation Week |

Bangalore | India | August 03, 2010

A high-level naval delegation from the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) – the government makers of India’s much-anticipated Light Combat Aircraft (LCA-Navy) – is currently in Russia for contract negotiations and issues related to the program’s shore-based test facility (SBTF). A senior official from the Defense Research & Development Organization (DRDO) told AVIATION WEEK that the team is being lead by Satish Babu, the financial advisor to DRDO chief V.K. Saraswat, who is also ADA’s director general. LCA Navy Program Director C.D. Balaji is also on the ADA team. “The team is currently holding contract negotiations with Russia’s Rosoboronesport. The talks are mainly revolving around SBTF, that’s coming up at the Naval Air Station, Goa, to flight-test LCA naval variants,” the official said.

 For the full story, please visit:

http://www.aviationweek.com/india