Hindustan Aeronautics Limited’s (HAL) indigenously developed Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) completed trials in high altitude capability in hot and high weather conditions in the 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. LUH took off from Leh and demonstrated its hot and high hover performance at Daulat Beg Oldie (DBO) Advanced Landing Ground (ALG) at 5000 MAMSL”, HAL said in a statement.
LUH showed payload capability in Siachen glacier high altitude and during the trials pilots landed the helicopter at the highest helipads of Amar and Sonam, proving HAL’s capability in design and development.
All planned tests were successfully demonstrated. The 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 the Indian Army.
The 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.
