Well, that was Ajai Shukla's layman observation by no means an official statement or a inside source's information.
Well if it was just that i would not mind but according to the article.
Testing times ahead for HAL
"In flying a single-engine aircraft, there is no bigger emergency than a flame-out", says a former Tejas test pilot. "But no fighter engine should flame out at just 28 degrees Alpha. However, the Tejas air intakes have not been well designed and, as the Alpha increases, the intakes constrict the airflow, and the engine dies for want of air."
Ajai Shukla was in fact quoting some one , that could be considered an insider source.
LCA has higher critical alpha by the virtue of it being a delta-winged air-craft as it gives better lift. There are also other air-crafts such as Mirage-2000 with same shaped air-intakes and have no problem of stalling at high alphas.
I think Comparing it to the Mirage-2000 is a redundant process LCA by it's very nature and time frame should be more comparable to the older Mirage-2000 that does not even have a production line anymore.
We should examine home well it can do against the Gripen , Rafale , J-10 , Typhoon .
That covers most of its Export rivals.
See this video of LCA-Tejas where it does a vertical loop (from 0.2 min). And there is no problem of stalling at all.
I have seen this Video , and to be fair while i was ecstatic about seeing the Tejas fly for the first time
I was a bit disappointed that the plane did not turn like i hoped it would , and even compared to the turning of the Gripen , it is a bit lackluster.
Gogbot, well you are arguing about the Air-take intake affecting the Alpha.
But for a rectangular air-intake we need a large amount of experience for that to get achieved.
Rafale
Rafale
Super Hornet Vs Hornet Air Intake
EF2000
Eurofighter Technology and Performance : Structure
Ok , then let them get some experience , that does not mean the flaws in the current air intakes coupled with the aircraft can be ignored. That still does make my point void. I am just saying the current alpha can be improved by improving the Air intakes , when they can imporve them imrove them
It really takes years of expertise to build a aircraft with the rectangular intake. SAAB and Lockheed Martin, Boeing havent done in overnight over half century of Flight building is there. India was denied many technologies and may take time to develop one.
Well they are developing them now
ADA certainly thinks they can do it .
The point here is what is the ASR defined limit of AoA needed for LCA, correct me if I am wrong but it is 28 degree. it is currently been tested till 22-24 degree, IAF is happy with that for IOC. Now once FOC is achieved it wil fully comply to ASR. And current FOC date is 2012 right? Which will be achieved using these engines and the same air intake design?
Let me start of by saying your right , the aircraft is satisfactory on all counts.
But let me blunt even the IAF is not happy with just satisfactory ,
They want a faster engine
They want an AESA radar
They want more refinements.
One of those refinements is the Air intake.
Improving them could possible push the alpha to above 30 , especially with a faster engine.
I want people to look to the Tejas to see a good aircraft , not just a fine , or decent one
Once the engine changes there be some changes in the air duct design And why compare it with other planes which are in service. These are different air frames designed with different requirements. So it is really futile to get in to any conclusion with just one parameter.
Agreed , but some of these aircraft Specifically the Gripen are export rivals , such things are the easiest way to establish a context
the poorly designed ameturish air take limits the optimal air flow to the engine of tejas at high AOA and coupled with the underpowered engine is the only case for limiting alpha and flight manueverability.
"ameturish "
If you knew what it actually took to make the Tejas a reality and the time when the Aircraft was designed , you would not use that word.
The design has limitations but they did what they could with what they had at the time. But the fact they did it at all is a achievement , keep in mind the last air intakes they designed was back in the 60's .
But they are not standing still
If only they could incorporate this into the Tejas. Which i am hoping they arm to do.
Considering new Engine new intakes.
Dear bro, ADA is getting salaries for work but the kind of results they give end up outdated. I can design an aircraft in next 20 years if I join aero engineering today and come out and start. Will you pay me for a fighter of today's requirements that I give you after 20+ years that too not properly meeting requirements?:12:
Your very welcome to list the Shortcomings of the Tejas as you see fit
A general statement like this is just wrong , the Tejas may feel outdated to you today , it is only because that 5th generation technology is today's technology , the Tejas as a 4th gen aircraft might not strike you as cutting edge, but i promise you if you look at 4th gen aircraft , it was very advanced.
The Tejas MK-II is our attempt to bridge the gap between 4th gen and 5th gen, the 4.5 gen is you will.
ADA is very much capable of advanced designed
the landing gear of tejas though well designed is having major issues with weight.
Not likely , you might as well fly kites if you want aircraft as lighter than the Tejas.
The fact that the Tejas has been seen fit to be adopted into a naval version , does not help that claim.
The problem here people just think the LCA is just not capable enough but if just see in the current configuration only it carries almost equal to ot more fuel then Mirage 2k, has successfully carried out bombing runs, fired the WVR missile and now the BVR missiles will be fired. LCA can carry min 4 BVR missiles and 2 WVR which is double then the Mig 21 bis and higher performance then carried by Mirage 2k (mirage2k does not carries R 77
). By the way LCA carries R 73 as WVR even Mig29 was carrying R 60 till recently. After upgrades they will carry R 73 (In 2003 ASR were changed for LCA to carry R 73 instead of R 60, R 73 weighs double then R 60, which required strengthening of wings and added to subsequent delay)
The development of LCA has given significant input for MiG27 platform up gradation. the MKI mission computer is Indian which is the same used in LCA.
Not saying the Tejas is not capable , or that it does not have points where it shines , only trying to say it also has a problem here , which should be fixed.
It's not perfect machine , it has weakness and strengths just like another aircraft
