Indian indigenous light utility helicopter completes hot and high altitude trials in Himalayas.

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited’s (HAL) indigenously developed Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) completed the hot and high-altitude trials in the Himalayas, said reports on Wednesday, September 9, 2020.

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Light Utility Helicopter (LUH). (Picture source: HAL)

The Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) designed and developed by State-owned aviation major, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has successfully demonstrated high altitude capability in hot and high weather conditions in the Himalayas

The LUH demonstrated a comprehensive test plan at an altitude of 3,300m in the Leh region in the Himalayas in temperatures up to 32°C. The trials tested envelope expansion, performance and flying qualities. The team then tested the helicopter’s hot and high-hover performance at Daulat Beg Oldie (DBO) Advanced Landing Ground (ALG) at 5,000m

During the trials, pilots landed the helicopter at the highest helipads of Amar and Sonam, it said. "HAL has once again proved its indigenous capability in design & development", the statement said.

The Army version of LUH is now ready for Initial Operational Clearance, said HAL CMD, R Madhavan. According to Director (Engineering and R&D), HAL, Arup Chatterjee, the performance of the helicopter and its systems is satisfactory fulfilling the requirements of the users.

Light Utility Helicopter (LUH). (Picture source: HAL)

About the Light Utility Helicopter (LUH):

Weighing 3-tonne, the new generation light helicopter can cruise at the speed of 235 km/h with a maximum speed of 260 km/h.

With a range of 350 km, the maximum take-off weight of the chopper is 3.12 tonne. The helicopter can accommodate a maximum of two pilots and six passengers.

In a statement, HAL said: “While these extreme weather conditions imposed flight restrictions on all other civil and military aircraft, LUH flights were unhindered as it is designed for such operations.”