Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) completed maiden flight of the second Light Utility Helicopter (LUH)-PT-2 prototype on Monday, featuring...
Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) completed maiden flight of the second Light Utility Helicopter (LUH)-PT-2 prototype on Monday, featuring improvements over the PT-1.
The flight lasting 22 minutes, was flown by Chief Test Pilot Wing Cdr(Retd) Unni K Pillai and Test Pilot Wing Cdr (Retd) Anil Bhambhani from its Bengaluru facility.
The LUH PT2 has modified tail boom and incorporates improvements based on feedback from testing of LUH PT1. The first flight of LUH PT1 was carried out on September 6, 2016 and further envelope expansion flights are in progress.
LUH PT-1 made its flight demonstration during the international air show Aero India-2017 held in February 2017.
HAL plans to carry out further flight testing on PT1 & PT2 in the months ahead to freeze the helicopter configuration by end of this year.
The LUH is a 3-ton class new generation helicopter being indigenously developed by HAL to meet the requirements of both military and civil operators.
The helicopter with Glass Cockpit will be deployed for Reconnaissance, Surveillance roles and as a light transport helicopter. The helicopter will be capable of flying at 220 Kmph, with a service ceiling of 6.5 Km and a range of 350 Km with 400 kg payload.
The LUH is powered by Safran/HAL Ardiden 1U/Shakti 1U single turbo shaft engine with sufficient power margins to cater to demanding high altitude missions.
An integrated facility for manufacturing the LUH along with systems and components, composites, transmission system, engine, Ground Test & Flight Test facilities and Repair and Overhauling facilities for LUH, systems and the engine is planned at Tumakuru, Karnataka for which the foundation stone was laid by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 3, 2016.
