HAL Completes Trials Of Light Combat Helicopter

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has achieved the hot and high-altitude trials of home-made Light Combat Helicopter (LCH).

The seasonal trials - including cold weather trials carried out at Leh during February this year - have been completed as part of the certification process, HAL announced today.

The flight trials at Leh have established hover performance and low speed handling characteristics of the helicopter under extreme weather conditions at different altitudes (3,200 to 4,800m).

During the trials, the helicopter and systems performed satisfactorily. LCH also has proven its capability to land and take off at Forward Landing Base in Siachen.

The trials were carried out on the third prototype of LCH (TD3) at Leh at the temperatures ranging from 13 to 27 degree centigrade with the participation of user pilots from Air Force, Army and representatives from CEMILAC and DGAQA.

Various tests included assessment and validation of flight envelope in ‘Hot-and-High’ conditions, culminating in landing at forward bases at geographic elevations of 13,600 feet to 15,800 feet.

These landings and take-offs were demonstrated with reasonable amount of weapon load and fuel.