India's light utility helicopter completes hot and high altitude trials in Himalayas

HALs indigeusly developed Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) demonstrated high altitude capability in hot and high wear conditions in Himalayas for about 10 days.

A comprehensive test plan was executed at Leh (3300 metres above mean sea level) in temperatures up to ISA (international standard atmosphere)+320C which included envelope expansion, performance and flying qualities, Bengaluru hequartered HAL (Hindustan Aeronautics Limited) said.

LUH took off from Leh and demonstrated its hot and high hover performance at Daulat Beg Oldie (DBO) vanced Landing Ground (ALG) at 5000 MAMSL, a HAL statement said on Wednesday.

helicopter also demonstrated its paylo capability in Siachen glacier high altitude.

During trials, pilots landed helicopter at highest helips of Amar and Sonam, it said.

"HAL has once again proved its indigeus capability in design & development", statement said.

Army version of LUH is w rey for Initial Operational Clearance, said HAL CMD, R Mhavan.

According to Director (Engineering and R&D), HAL, Arup Chatterjee, performance of helicopter and its systems is satisfactory fulfilling requirements of users.

All planned tests were successfully demonstrated.

flights were carried out recently by a composite trial team which included pilots from HAL, Wg Cdr (Retd) Unni Pillai, CTP (RW), Wg Cdr (Retd) Anil Bhambani, Gp Capt (Retd) Pupinder Singh and Gp Capt V Panwar along with Gp Capt R Dubey, Sq Ldr Joshi from Indian Air Force and Lt Col R Grewal & Lt Col Pawan from Indian Army.

Representatives from certification authority witnessed trials, it was stated.

Initial Operational Clearance for basic LUH was accorded by CEMILAC (Centre for Military Airworthiness and Certification) for IAF variant on February seven, 2020, HAL said.

(Photo: PTI)