HAL Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) and Light Observation Helicopter (LOH)

[Prashant12]

Hindustan Aeronautics' Light Utility Helicopter set to fly in a week

NEW DELHI: The first flight of an indigenously developed light utility helicopter is to take place within a week - a major milestone for the project - with developers overcoming a final software-related hurdle that had held up tests.

Authoritative sources told ET that the first flight of the 3.1 tonne prototype LUH, developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. to replace the ageing Cheetah and Chetak fleets of the armed forces, will take place in Bengaluru within a few days, depending on the weather.

"We are now ready to take the chopper in the air. All hurdles have been crossed and now it is only a matter of the right day when all conditions are good for a first flight," a senior official involved in the project told ET.

While ground tests for the LUH were concluded in 2015, the first flight had been held up due to certification issues in the software used in the chopper. As the LUH is classified as a military project, special encrypted software was needed. The developer had initially shared codes that did not meet specifications.

The LUH program has been in the works since 2008, when the armed forces projected a requirement for a light chopper that could carry troops and supplies to border areas. More than 200 choppers are needed by the three armed forces.

There has been renewed energy on accelerating the project in the past year, with a parallel process being driven by the armed forces to procure a light chopper for urgent needs.

HAL plans to start manufacturing the choppers from 2018, after certifications and operational clearances are obtained. The chopper is powered by a Shakti engine made in collaboration with French company Turbomeca. A new production facility is to be built for the LUH project.

Besides troop transport, the choppers can be used for aerial reconnaissance and civilian purposes to meet domestic and export demand.

HAL is working on a project with Russian Helicopters to build 200 of the KA 226 light choppers in India as part of a government-to-government deal. A detailed agreement on the KA 226 is expected to be finalised shortly.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com...set-to-fly-in-a-week/articleshow/53971418.cms

 

[Lions Of Punjab]

The 1st test could happen any time tomorrow (According to Livefist) .

 

[kstriya]

The 1st test could happen any time tomorrow (According to Livefist) .

I am ready with sweets, will wait for the update!

 

[Narasimh]

The 1st test could happen any time tomorrow (According to Livefist) .

anytime, starting tomorrow, not necessarily tomorrow only.

Hope for the best but if its not tomorrow then don't loose heart either

 

[tejas warrior]

15-minutes hovering marks light utility helicopter's first flight

BENGALURU: A prototype of the indigenous light utility helicopter (LUH) took off at 12.15pm on Tuesday, marking the first flight of the chopper, a 187-unit order for which has already been placed with defence PSU Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).

Sources in HAL said that the firm's chief test pilot Wing Commander Unni Pillai and test pilot Anil Bhambhani were in the cockpit for the first technical flight.

"It took off at 12.15(pm) and was in the air for 15 minutes. It was a technical flight and several parameters were tested," the source could not immediately reveal all the details immediately.

The LUH platform is a single engine multi-purpose helicopter in the three-tonne class and is designed to perform various roles like policing, urban surveillance, medical ambulance etc.

HAL has been keen on LUH for a while now and has even embarked on a separate complex for chopper production in Tumakuru near Bengaluru, which will largely focus on LUH. The first flight of the prototype was to happen sometime last year, but there has been a considerable delay.

Speaking about the new chopper complex in Tumakuru, HAL Chairman T Survarna Raju had told TOI earlier: "Activities that support Light Combat Helicopter (LCH), and Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Dhruv will also be taken up in the new complex."

However, the primary responsibility will be to produce the LUH. Raju had said that if everything went well the unit could be operational by 2017-18. It will have the initial capacity to build 3 tonne class and 10 tonne class of helicopters and will be able to build about five 3-tonne class of LUHs per year.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...copters-first-flight/articleshow/54028987.cms

 

[Prashant12]

HAL's #LUH during maiden flight in Bangalore

https://twitter.com/writetake/

 

[Jagdish58]

Prototype of LUH took off on 06.09.2016 12:15 hrs for 15 mins, marking first flight

http://idrw.org/15-minutes-hovering-marks-light-utility-helicopters-first-flight/

 

[Bahamut]

what does the test result show ?
Why are the rotar tip not slanted ,it will increase the performance and reduce noise

 

[Prashant12]

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[Prashant12]

Light Utility Helicopter’s maiden flight for 15 minutes

Bengaluru: Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) on Tuesday said it conducted the maiden flight of the Light Utility Helicopter (LUH).

According to HAL officials, the maiden flight was held at one of the technical areas inside the Helicopter Complex situated in Bengaluru.

HAL termed LUH’s first sortie as a ‘technical flight’ owing to the limited manoeuvres it performed. The home-grown platform hovered for 15 minutes after its lift-off post-noon today.

HAL said the first flight marked an ‘important and significant beginning for prototype testing of LUH. ‘

When inducted into the armed forces, LUH is expected to replace the Cheetah and Chetak. In addition to domestic market, HAL is also eyeing to export the platform.

LUH follows HAL’s two other products – the Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) and Light Combat Helicopter (LCH). ALH is serving armed forces in large numbers while LCH is in the last stages of the certification process.

Powered by a Safran HE Ardiden-1U engine, the LUH has a service ceiling of 6.5 km and a total seating capacity of eight, including two pilots.

Designed to carry out various utility roles such as reconnaissance, transport, cargo load and rescue operations, HAL claims that the LUH could operate from Himalayas as well.

The LUH programme is running way behind the schedule with HAL first exhibiting the mock-up of the chopper during Aero India 2013.

In the next two years, LUH will be undertaking a series of flight trials with HAL set to add more prototypes.

http://english.mathrubhumi.com/news...-flight-for-15-minutes-english-news-1.1336354

 

[WolfPack86]

Another photo from today's first flight of HAL's Light Utility Helicoper. 3.1ton / Range: 350km / Ceiling: 6.5km

 

[WolfPack86]

BREAKING: India's indigenous 3-ton Light Utility Helicopter lifts off for the first time. In air for 15-min
https://twitter.com/livefist?lang=en

 

[WolfPack86]

first flight of HAL's Light Utility Helicoper

 

[Jagdish58]

Nice pics wish armed force test and induct these birds soon

Hope an light attack version of LUH is also produced for export and anti naxal role

 

[aditya g]

Pretty. Hate being spoilsport but cautious optimism should be the approach. Going by lch example there are going to be many years before loh enters service

 

[Prashant12]

HAL Conducts Technical Flight of Indigenous Light Utility Helicopter (LUH)

Achieving yet another significant milestone, HAL conducted a technical flight of indigenous Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) in Bengaluru, today. The helicopter lifted at 1210 hours and was in the air for 15 minutes at HAL facilities. The flawless flight was carried out by HAL test pilots.

This event marks an important and significant beginning for prototype testing of LUH. This is the third indigenous helicopter product from the stables of HAL after ALH and LCH. Apart from replacement of ageing fleet of Cheetah / Chetak, LUH is expected to capture a sizeable share both in domestic and international market.

Light Utility Helicopter (LUH):

The LUH has a maximum All-Up-Weight (AUW) of 3150 Kgs, fitted with Safran HE Ardiden-1U engine of 750 KW power, with a range of 350 Km, service ceiling 6.5 Km, seating capacity of six passengers plus two pilots. The helicopter is designed to carry out various utility roles such as reconnaissance, transport, cargo load and rescue operations. The helicopter can operate from sea level to high altitudes of Himalayas.

http://www.hal-india.com/HAL Conducts Te/ND__174

 

[Prashant12]

HAL's light utility helicopter takes inaugural flight

On Tuesday, nine months after Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone at Tumakuru (Karnataka) for Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL)’s new helicopter manufacturing complex, the helicopter to be built there made its inaugural flight.

The light utility helicopter (LUH) will replace the military’s obsolescent fleet of Chetak and Cheetah helicopters that have flown for over three decades. The defence ministry is following a dual track — HAL is designing, developing and building 187 LUHs, while importing-cum-building 197 Kamov-226T light helicopters with technology from Russia.

“Apart from replacing ageing fleet of Cheetah/Chetak, LUH is expected to capture a sizeable share both in domestic and international market,” HAL stated.

In the test, which HAL described as “flawless”, veteran test pilots, Wing Commanders Unni Pillai and Anil Bhambari, got airborne and carried out a few basic turns and manoeuvres. Helicopter testing is unforgiving, since pilots have no way of bailing out of a chopper that loses control.

Veteran test pilots like Pillai are part of an experienced HAL helicopter division that has already masterminded two successful indigenous programmes — the Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) that is serving the army in large numbers; and the Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) that is undergoing flight-testing before being inducted into the Army and Air Force.

HAL intends to speed up flight-testing of the LUH by distributing it over three prototypes. It hopes to obtain initial operational certification by end-2017. Limited series production will be done in Bengaluru, and the 610-acre Tumakuru unit is slated to commence production in 2018-19. The initial investment for the Tumakuru project could be of the order of Rs 2,000 crore.

According to HAL’s internal manufacturing targets, the Tumakuru plant will ship about 30 LUHs annually, starting in 2019-20. In phase II, which will take another three-four years, production will be ramped up to 60 helicopters per year. HAL described the LUH as a light, single-engine helicopter that is powered by the Safran HE Ardiden-1U engine. In addition to two pilots, the helicopter can fly six passengers at sea level, with load capacity reducing with altitude. The LUH’s engine, which delivers 750 kilowatts of power, permits flight operations at as high as 6,500 metres (21,325 feet). That would allow it to fly to India’s highest posts in the Siachen Glacier sector.

HAL says the LUH has an “all-up weight” of 3,150 kilogrammes, which places it in the three-tonne class. Its operating range of 350 km allows it to carry out various roles, including reconnaissance, transport, cargo load and high-altitude rescue operations. The twin-engine Dhruv ALH, which is a five-tonne class helicopter, was initially sold by HAL to the military for about Rs 40 crore, but the current order is likely to be priced at Rs 65-70 crore ($10 million). By that yardstick, industry analysts estimate the smaller LUH would be delivered at about Rs 40 crore per piece; and the 200-helicopter order would be worth Rs 8,000 crore.

http://www.business-standard.com/ar...-light-utility-helicopter-116090600828_1.html

 

[Rahul Singh]

First HTT-40 now LUH. It's a good year. The real test would be getting them certified soon. The real test would be getting them certified soon

But unlike HTT-40, LUH will take time. It needs to certify itself from Siachen to port-blair including demonstrating taking off from ground-effect at 21,000 ft to performing 'good hover' at sea level. Won't speak of the quality but HAL is certainly getting mastery at designing a helicoper with sweeping performance in entire spectrum.

I hope our Defence forces understands difficulties in producing a panacea every time.

Going by lch example there are going to be many years before loh enters service

 

[WolfPack86]

HAL Light Utility Helicopter FIRST FLIGHT

 

[Arjun25]

• • HAL's New Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) Inaugural Flight Was "Flawless"