By Anantha Krishnan M
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
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