HAL Prachand - Light Combat Helicopter (LCH)

[bhramos]

Thanks Brahmos. As for safety, go through the Ecuador accident. Pilots survived.

Thanks mate, this capsule is made of Titanium Body which can even with stand anti-aircraft guns too.

 

[SATISH]

MI 35 is a flying tank...dont compare it with our LCH...there is no equivalent for the Mi 35 all around the world.

 

[enlightened1]

MI 35 is a flying tank...dont compare it with our LCH...there is no equivalent for the Mi 35 all around the world.

Defence Materials Research Laboratory (DMRL), Hyderabad has developed the armour for the LCH from ceramic plates. The pilots' area was designed to withstand a direct hit at 90 degrees from a 12.7 mm armour-piercing round. To put that in perspective (Perspex-tive"¦ Ha! Ha!) some of the IAF Mi-35s, which were deployed in Congo, took hits from 12.7 mm AP rounds. They penetrated right through the armoured glass of the Mi-35. And that's a much heavier machine.

Broadswordhttp://ajaishukla.blogspot.com/2009/09/more-on-light-combat-helicopter-lch.html.......................

 

[SATISH]

Broadswordhttp://ajaishukla.blogspot.com/2009/09/more-on-light-combat-helicopter-lch.html.......................

And you are trying to imply?...Mi 35 dosent have an equivalent in this world. Just give me one comparison between the Mi 35 other than the Mi 24 Hind. You can search the internet your whole life and you cant find one.

 

[bengalraider]

The basic difference between the design philosophy of the Mi-35/24 and the western attack choppers is that while western attack helicopters are built to be fast and low hit hard and get out the Russian Mi series focuses on the assault chopper concept in which the chopper is a flying tank or flying APC that drops troops onto enemy territory(after strafing all enemy there of course) and then hangs around as a menacing big brother providing CAS until the men get the job done then lands picks up the men and takes them back all under enemy fire.The LCH is a chopper designed as a western design it cannot do what the "AKBAR" can!

 

[Patriot]

Thank you Bhramos.Quiet informative.

 

[nandu]

Inside story: Team LCH upbeat over maiden flight

More photos of LCH's maiden flight and the proud team members.

It's champagne time. Work hard and party hard -- that's the fair norm even in the business of plane-making. And, Team LCH is exactly doing that. A toast after the triumph. A toast for tomorrow.
Just days after the maiden flight of their light and lethal chopper, Light Combat Helicopter, the mood at Camp LCH inside the heavily fortified Helicopter Complex in Bangalore is just what the doctor ordered. Throwing the media gag imposed by a bunch of nil-sighted babus at the top, a group of passionate members of Team LCH spoke their hearts out to tarmak007. Here's the best-cut of what they shared, in their own words, at one of the finest waterholes located close to a golf course near Bangalore's old airport.

Morale high: The morale of entire team is sky-high and we had to wait for little more than what we expected to see the machine fly. There were issues and there are issues. But then, this is a prototype and there are bound to be some concerns. That much benefit of doubt should be given to any new programs. We know what it takes to make an aircraft fly for the first time or be it 500th or even the 2000th time. But, we are saddened every time something goes wrong. The ALH is a great platform, but despite our best efforts it got us some bad publicity. Our confidence was dented, not once, many times. But now LCH has again triggered our morale. Engineers, designers, technicians and pilots are not robots. They have emotions. Since you (tarmak007) know how the company functions, we got to put up with lot of 'stupid stuff' on a daily basis. You don't have any choice. We know our strengths. We knew, we could. Now, we are bit relaxed.

Home-grown effort: Unlike the ALH, this program, right from word-go to till date, this project has been complete Indian. That's a huge credit for us. It reinforces once again our capabilities in rolling out machines that can match the best in the world, using home-grown talent and technologies. Only India, China and Pakistan have terrains with such high-altitudes and here an attack helicopter plays a huge role during a conflict. Kargil was a classic case. If only we had the LCHs then, may be...! We are extremely proud and delighted that we now have a mean machine from our own hangars. This reinforces our capabilities in indigenization. As designers and engineers, we are elated that we could build something that these pilots wanted.

Services happy: We have been receiving calls from all quarters based on the initial reports of the March 29th flight. The Services are extremely happy with what ever we have achieved. They have complimented our efforts and are looking forward to see the platform goes through the future processes swiftly, meeting all parameters. At the end of the day, it's their baby. They will nurture it over the years. We never had so much of positive comments coming from so many quarters at one go. The signs are good. There's a saying among aviation fraternity -- What's looking good, will fly good. We hope it will. It should.

One force: LCH's future will depend upon various factors within the company, much of it is known to all. Honestly, there's some apprehensions expressed all over right now. While it's easy to make comments or point finger at someone, we feel there must be a complete new way of thinking to take this project to its logical end – induction into Services. Program management is the key. Can we have a group now completely dedicated to LCH, working on the project day in and day out? We have to be at it all the time. We knew what went wrong in the past. Why things got delayed? Why things are getting delayed? We are confident and it's possible. You got to have the will. A will and a vision. Also, the media must give us some breathing space. Let LCH enter a concrete phase and then let's evaluate it. An early call based on hear-say and just one look won't work. We need your backing.

That was it. An up-close with Team LCH. Short 'n' sweet. Surely they deserve all the pat, including the team captain R. Srinivasan, the God-fearing and down-to-earth soul.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tailpiece: The LCH is scheduled to start its test flying regularly from Monday, April 5, 2010, if insiders were to be believed. It will have enough flights logged before the 'show of strength' for mantris, defence babus and the media. As reported by tarmak007 in the previous blog – a first official flight after the first original flight! The tentative dates now made available are April 22 or April 23. The date could still change, they say.

http://tarmak007.blogspot.com/2010/04/inside-story-team-lch-upbeat-over.html

 

[ZOOM]

Inside story: Team LCH upbeat over maiden flight

More photos of LCH's maiden flight and the proud team members.

It's champagne time. Work hard and party hard -- that's the fair norm even in the business of plane-making. And, Team LCH is exactly doing that. A toast after the triumph. A toast for tomorrow.
Just days after the maiden flight of their light and lethal chopper, Light Combat Helicopter, the mood at Camp LCH inside the heavily fortified Helicopter Complex in Bangalore is just what the doctor ordered. Throwing the media gag imposed by a bunch of nil-sighted babus at the top, a group of passionate members of Team LCH spoke their hearts out to tarmak007. Here's the best-cut of what they shared, in their own words, at one of the finest waterholes located close to a golf course near Bangalore's old airport.

Morale high: The morale of entire team is sky-high and we had to wait for little more than what we expected to see the machine fly. There were issues and there are issues. But then, this is a prototype and there are bound to be some concerns. That much benefit of doubt should be given to any new programs. We know what it takes to make an aircraft fly for the first time or be it 500th or even the 2000th time. But, we are saddened every time something goes wrong. The ALH is a great platform, but despite our best efforts it got us some bad publicity. Our confidence was dented, not once, many times. But now LCH has again triggered our morale. Engineers, designers, technicians and pilots are not robots. They have emotions. Since you (tarmak007) know how the company functions, we got to put up with lot of 'stupid stuff' on a daily basis. You don't have any choice. We know our strengths. We knew, we could. Now, we are bit relaxed.

Home-grown effort: Unlike the ALH, this program, right from word-go to till date, this project has been complete Indian. That's a huge credit for us. It reinforces once again our capabilities in rolling out machines that can match the best in the world, using home-grown talent and technologies. Only India, China and Pakistan have terrains with such high-altitudes and here an attack helicopter plays a huge role during a conflict. Kargil was a classic case. If only we had the LCHs then, may be...! We are extremely proud and delighted that we now have a mean machine from our own hangars. This reinforces our capabilities in indigenization. As designers and engineers, we are elated that we could build something that these pilots wanted.

Services happy: We have been receiving calls from all quarters based on the initial reports of the March 29th flight. The Services are extremely happy with what ever we have achieved. They have complimented our efforts and are looking forward to see the platform goes through the future processes swiftly, meeting all parameters. At the end of the day, it's their baby. They will nurture it over the years. We never had so much of positive comments coming from so many quarters at one go. The signs are good. There's a saying among aviation fraternity -- What's looking good, will fly good. We hope it will. It should.

One force: LCH's future will depend upon various factors within the company, much of it is known to all. Honestly, there's some apprehensions expressed all over right now. While it's easy to make comments or point finger at someone, we feel there must be a complete new way of thinking to take this project to its logical end – induction into Services. Program management is the key. Can we have a group now completely dedicated to LCH, working on the project day in and day out? We have to be at it all the time. We knew what went wrong in the past. Why things got delayed? Why things are getting delayed? We are confident and it's possible. You got to have the will. A will and a vision. Also, the media must give us some breathing space. Let LCH enter a concrete phase and then let's evaluate it. An early call based on hear-say and just one look won't work. We need your backing.

That was it. An up-close with Team LCH. Short 'n' sweet. Surely they deserve all the pat, including the team captain R. Srinivasan, the God-fearing and down-to-earth soul.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tailpiece: The LCH is scheduled to start its test flying regularly from Monday, April 5, 2010, if insiders were to be believed. It will have enough flights logged before the 'show of strength' for mantris, defence babus and the media. As reported by tarmak007 in the previous blog – a first official flight after the first original flight! The tentative dates now made available are April 22 or April 23. The date could still change, they say.

http://tarmak007.blogspot.com/2010/04/inside-story-team-lch-upbeat-over.html

The way mission profile of the LCH being studied, one thing is sure that it is in same class as US Cobra light attack helicopter but with added capability of flying at higher altitude. All other especially firepower is in same class as Cobra's.

 

[JAISWAL]

sir
can any one of u plz conferm date for lch to take its 1st official. on BR its posted to b this months 21st.
Thanks

 

[RAM]

LCH to make official first flight on 21st.

Angle of attack has just being informed that the first official fight of the Light Combat Helicopter will take place on 21st of this month. The flight will take place in front VIPs, defense ministry officials and military officials. LCH has completed a few confidence building flight in and around HAL airport Bangaluru. LCH is expected to enter service before 2015.
http://idrw.org/?p=1595

 

[bhramos]

The basic difference between the design philosophy of the Mi-35/24 and the western attack choppers is that while western attack helicopters are built to be fast and low hit hard and get out the Russian Mi series focuses on the assault chopper concept in which the chopper is a flying tank or flying APC that drops troops onto enemy territory(after strafing all enemy there of course) and then hangs around as a menacing big brother providing CAS until the men get the job done then lands picks up the men and takes them back all under enemy fire.The LCH is a chopper designed as a western design it cannot do what the "AKBAR" can!

19. Mi-24/35 Hind 210 mph. World's fastest attack helicopter.

source: http://www.aviationtrivia.info/THE-100-FASTEST-AIRCRAFT.php

 

[nandu]

LCH to make official first flight on 21st.

Angle of attack has just being informed that the first official fight of the Light Combat Helicopter will take place on 21st of this month. The flight will take place in front VIPs, defense ministry officials and military officials. LCH has completed a few confidence building flight
in and around HAL airport Bangaluru. LCH is expected to enter service before 2015.

http://angle-of-attack.blogspot.com/2010/05/lch-to-make-official-first-flight-on.html

 

[Yatharth Singh]

It does not matter that from where the model of LCH is taken from. The thing that matters is its performance and several test flights and if it overcomes all these hurdles then it would be a great milestone for Indian armed forces as then its several fleets can be prepared and can prove a great alternative for the current huge and heavy attack helicopters.

 

[san]

Is it possible to place the rear landing gear in a forward position of fuseleg. Then length of the landing gear will reduced. I am not aware of the total weight of the landing gear but expect that it may be around 70-80 kg atleast and with a reduction of 1 feet, total weight may be reduced by atleast 20 kg. Suggestion/ comments are welcome. I have very limited knowledge in aerospace component and I may be entirely wrong

 

[nandu]

*Flash* : Antony To Review First Flight Of LCH On May 22nd In Bangalore

http://chhindits.blogspot.com/

 

[Armand2REP]

Is it possible to place the rear landing gear in a forward position of fuseleg. Then length of the landing gear will reduced. I am not aware of the total weight of the landing gear but expect that it may be around 70-80 kg atleast and with a reduction of 1 feet, total weight may be reduced by atleast 20 kg. Suggestion/ comments are welcome. I have very limited knowledge in aerospace component and I may be entirely wrong

Uh, no... the tail will tip over and hit the ground.

 

[plugwater]

Indian LCH Eyes First Official Flight

The official first flight of India's Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) is set for May 23.

Designed and developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), the light chopper had its unofficial first flight on March 29. Since then, HAL's Helicopter Complex has test flown the chopper as many as 20 times to check various flight parameters. The LCH is based on the Dhruv platform and features a glass cockpit.

HAL Chairman Ashok Nayak told AVIATION WEEK that the "designers, engineers and pilots are extremely happy with the performance so far. We are confident of flying the second prototype of LCH in August or September this year."

Several other aircraft will precede the LCH during the event. According to insiders, the Intermediate Jet Trainer Sitara from the limited series production (LSP) block will be first to fly, followed by the Light Combat Aircraft Tejas LSP-3. "Then the Hawk [trainer] built from the raw material phase at HAL will grace the skies followed by an upgraded Dornier with glass cockpit," an official coordinating the show says. "The first Advanced Light Helicopter Dhruv from the 159 order block [105 Army, 54 IAF] will be next in line, and finally the baby of the moment, LCH, will enter."

The Indian air force's aerobatic helicopter display team Sarang (formed by Dhruv helicopters) has been summoned from Sulur air base to escort LCH in formation. The LCH will be piloted by Wing Cmdr. (ret.) Unni Pillai, HAL's chief rotary wing test pilot, with Group Capt. (ret.) Hari Nair as co-pilot.

Indian Defense Minister A.K. Antony is leading a group of top officials who will observe the first flight at HAL's military air base here in Bengaluru. "The Su-30 MKI was to perform some aerobatics as per the initial plan, then the idea was dropped owing to air safety concerns considering the thick population in and around HAL airport," a source says. "Now it will be on a static display only."

The LCH team is expected to perform some limited maneuvers during the flight.

http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/gene...eadline=Indian LCH Eyes First Official Flight

 

[RAM]

The official first flight of India's Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) is now fixed on May 23, 2010. Designed and developed by Hindustan
JAI HO! HAL promises a Super Sunday with LCH's official maiden flight; Chairman Ashok Nayak says 2nd prototype by Aug-Sept; IAF's Sarang to escort baby LCH


Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), the light chopper had its unofficial outing on March 29, this year. Since then, HAL's Helicopter Complex has test-flown the chopper as many as 20 times checking various flight parameters.Built, based on the proven Dhruv platform, the stealthy, tandem configuration and glass cockpit LCH has so far been a pilot's delight. HAL

Chairman Ashok Nayak told AVIATION WEEK that his team is all geared up for the 'Super Sunday' show. "It will be a perfect display of HAL's current range of products from fixed and rotary wing. Team HAL is excited to present a range of flying platforms to high-profile gathering. LCH will be the star and the designers, engineers and pilots are extremely happy with the performance so far," Nayak said. "We are confident of flying the second prototype of LCH in August or September this year," Nayak added.

http://tarmak007.blogspot.com/

 

[Rahul Singh]

The basic difference between the design philosophy of the Mi-35/24 and the western attack choppers is that while western attack helicopters are built to be fast and low hit hard and get out the Russian Mi series focuses on the assault chopper concept in which the chopper is a flying tank or flying APC that drops troops onto enemy territory(after strafing all enemy there of course) and then hangs around as a menacing big brother providing CAS until the men get the job done then lands picks up the men and takes them back all under enemy fire.The LCH is a chopper designed as a western design it cannot do what the "AKBAR" can!

Mi-35/24 was designed with crew space mainly for storing extra ammunition for rearming the chopper without returning base.

 

[rojesh]

Can somebody shed some light in this. I have been working with helicopters for some time now commercial helicopters. All the landing gear fold inside which improves the aerodynamics of the helicopter for some extent. Why its not provided in LCH.