By Anantha Krishnan M. | Aviation Week
Bangalore, India | May 19, 2010
The official first flight of India’s Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) is now fixed on May 23, 2010. Designed and developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), the light chopper had its unofficial outing on March 29, this year. Since then, HAL’s Helicopter Complex has test-flown the chopper as many as 20 times checking various flight parameters.
Built, based on the proven Dhruv platform, the stealthy, tandem configuration and glass cockpit LCH has so far been a pilot’s delight. HAL Chairman Ashok Nayak told AVIATION WEEK that his team is all geared up for the ‘Super Sunday’ show. “It will be a perfect display of HAL’s current range of products from fixed and rotary wing. Team HAL is excited to present a range of flying platforms to high-profile gathering. LCH will be the star and the designers, engineers and pilots are extremely happy with the performance so far,” Nayak said. “We are confident of flying the second prototype of LCH in August or September this year,” Nayak added.
Built, based on the proven Dhruv platform, the stealthy, tandem configuration and glass cockpit LCH has so far been a pilot’s delight. HAL Chairman Ashok Nayak told AVIATION WEEK that his team is all geared up for the ‘Super Sunday’ show. “It will be a perfect display of HAL’s current range of products from fixed and rotary wing. Team HAL is excited to present a range of flying platforms to high-profile gathering. LCH will be the star and the designers, engineers and pilots are extremely happy with the performance so far,” Nayak said. “We are confident of flying the second prototype of LCH in August or September this year,” Nayak added.
