The flight of the first prototype of the LCA Naval variant NP-1 (naval prototype-1) lasted for about 20 minutes within the designated flight envelope, according to a Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) release.
The test flight was carried out with landing gear extended as a routine practice during the maiden flight. With this successful flight test, the LCA development programme has crossed another major milestone.
The LCA (NP-1) was piloted by Come T A Maolankar, chief test pilot and co-piloted by Wg Cdr M Prabhu, flight test engineer of NFTC.
The development plan of the Naval version envisages building of two prototypes -- a two seat trainer (NP-1) and a single seat fighter (NP-2) -- as technology demonstrators to carry out carrier suitability certification and weapons integration.
The aircraft is specifically designed for take off from a 14-degree ramp on the carrier deck and use the Arrester Hook System to facilitate landing within the deck length of 90 m.
The event was witnessed by top dignitaries, including V K Saraswat, Scientific Advisor & DG (DRDO), Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal N A K Browne, Deputy Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Satish Soni, Commandant Air Force Training Command Air Marshal Rajinder Singh, HAL Chairman R K Tyagi, Programme Director (CA) & Director ADA P S Subramanyan, Project Director of LCA Navy, Cmde (Retd) C D Balaji and Dr K Tamilmani of CEMILAC. PTI RS BH APR