Indias LCA flies in the configuration of Indian Air Force ready for delivery in December 2010 : Defense news
The first flight of Indias Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Limited Series Production (LSP) aircraft, LSP-4 took place at HAL, Bangalore airport today.
India LCA flies in the configuration of Indian Air Force ready for delivery in December 2010
India LCA flies in the configuration of Indian Air Force ready for delivery in December 2010
The aircraft took off at 1110 hrs and landed forty minutes later, becoming the 10th Tejas aircraft flying.
The aircraft flew to an altitude of 11 km and went supersonic touching 1.1 Mach speed.
A major milestone in the direction of releasing the Tejas for the IAF planned for December 2010 it was the first flight of a Tejas aircraft flying in the configuration that will be finally delivered to the Indian Air Force.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr PS Subramanyam, Director, Aeronautical Development Agency, Bangalore, said that the Tejas team is now heading to central India to carry out hot weather trials.
He expressed confidence that the aircraft would soon be flown by operational pilots of the defense services and he looked forward to that day.
Test Pilot Gp Capt Suneet Krishna, flew the aircraft with Test Director, Gp Capt D Chakravorty, guiding from the telemetry facility of National Flight Test Centre. The flight was also witnessed by ACNS (Air) at Naval HQ Cmde BS Prahar, NM.
The Indian Navy has a considerable stake in the programme, as they look to replace their Sea Harrier fleet, which is due to be phased out in due course.