Aero India 2011: Homegrown birds to steal the show

Team DNA ^ | 1/31/2011 | Team DNA

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

Besides the Eurofighter Typhoons and the F16s, two home-grown metal birds— the Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) and the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Navy— will be seen at the upcoming Aero India 2011, which will be held at the Air Force Station Yelahanka between February 9 and 13.

Both the LCH and the LCA are the latest indigenous efforts to come out from the stables of the state-owned defence laboratories and production units.

Defence sources said that the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited manufactured the LCH, India’s first dedicated attack helicopter. The LCH features a narrow fuselage and a tandem seating for the pilot and co-pilot. It undertook its maiden flight on March 29 last year.

Meanwhile, India’s first indigenous LCA (Navy) NP1 will also make its debut at the air show. However, unlike the LCH, it will only be a static display at the five-day event.

The NP1, touted as the only carrier-borne aircraft in the light category in the world, was rolled out last year. The first flight of the aircraft is expected to take place by the end of this year.

[JRandomFreeper]

The first flight of the aircraft is expected to take place by the end of this year.

Are they following the old Soviet design bureau model including getting in the first flight in December?

/johnny

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

I am cutting them a little slack because this is their first foray into the aerospace industry.

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

I am cutting them with a little slack.

[JRandomFreeper]

Just wondering if they were using the Soviet model for design. I wouldn't be surpised. And it's not a bad way to go for them, given their realities on the ground.

But I'm pretty clueless on the Indian aerospace front.

Some freeper will know all about it and 'splain it to me.

/johnny

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

It is not a Soviet design. This is from the factories of India. Its their design

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

A company called Hindustan Aeronautical Limited. In fact, they produced their own helicopter.

[tet68]

[JRandomFreeper]

I didn't think it was a Soviet design. But I wasn't clear. What I was asking about is if they use the old Soviet design bureau model of the designers designing it and some washing machine factory building it. And the bureaucratic steps/flight test/ etc.... involved. The Soviets did things differently. In the West, GD or LM or Boeing designs and builds. In Soviet Russia, designers design. Factories build. First flights happen in late December (typically).

/johnny

[STARSCREAM1987]

http://australianaviation.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/LCH_HAL.jpg

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MYkWK0UFCKg/S_zgbiMtVmI/AAAAAAAAA9A/D_4sqDP3-zc/s1600/Hal+LCH-may10.jpg

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ej5kQwZWlzM/TKqqSD3fNQI/AAAAAAAABEg/2ec0vMOqJNI/s1600/Indian_Light_Combat_Helicopter_HAL-LCH.jpg

[kbennkc]

Looks like the main rotor turns the wrong way like the Russians.