Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha Friday visited the test platform of the indigenously-built Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas at the state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) here for a firsthand assessment of the fighter's flight control.
The platform, christened "Iron Birda", is a facility at the Aircraft Research and Design Centre of the defence behemoth where all issues of Tejas flight control are resolved.
"It is a unique facility where all tests of Tejas are carried under normal and failure modes for complex aircraft systems," HAL chairman R.K. Tyagi told Raha on the occasion.
The facility also does integrity test of the flight control system for statically unstable aircraft like LCA.
"Iron Bird is the final platform where Tejas flight control systems are fully tested to ensure its flight safety. ItAis a test rig that facilitates ground testing of flight control system, components and software for LCA in open loop and closed loop modes," Tyagi pointed out.
The Iron Bird platform also evaluates the fighter jet's cockpit with controls and displays, hydraulic system, landing gear retraction and extension systems and nose wheel steering systems.
IAF deputy chief Air Marshal S.B.P. Sinha flew the trainer version of Tejas here Wednesday for a first hand experience and feel of the aircraft during a visit to the state-run Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) and HAL for reviewing its programme.