I am proud of my designers who gave birth to LCH: Ashok Nayak

HAL Chairman Ashok Nayak (above) and the LCH Team (below). Photos: A.R. Jose and HAL

HAL Chairman Ashok Nayak is a happy man. So are the designers, technicians, engineers and pilots who toiled hard to make the light combat helicopter (LCH) fly. On the eve of the official maiden flight of LCH, Ashok Nayak, in an interview to AVIATION WEEK says that his team did an extremely commendable job. "LCH is the first attack helicopter to be developed indigenously.  LCH  is most likely the only helicopter to sport the combat helicopter tag in the 5.5 ton category  and will have almost all the functionalities required by our defence forces.  Integrating all the requirements and keeping a watch on the All-Up-Weight in itself  was a big challenge.   LCH  also incorporates a number of stealth features with reduced Radar and Infra-red signatures.  LCH would be  a major weapon system in the arsenal of India's Defence forces to counter any external and internal threats. I am proud that our designers have succeeded with flying colors in this endeavour. "
(As this blog is being posted, one could hear the ear-splitting sound of HAL flying beauties doing their final lap of practise sessions at HAL airport, before the Super Sunday show.)

(Catch the full interview on AVIATION WEEK and subsequently on this blog. Also, catch exclusive HD photos of the maiden LCH flight on this blog on May 23, 2010.)