BENGALURU: Hindustan Aeronautics Limited’s (HAL) indigenously developed Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) demonstrated high-altitude capability in hot and high weather conditions in the Himalayas. Also, the Army version of the helicopter is ready for Initial Operational Clearance.The HAL, in a statement on Wednesday, said a comprehensive test plan was executed at Leh (3,300 metres above mean sea level – MAMSL) in temperatures up to ISA+320C which included envelope expansion, performance and flying qualities.
“LUH took off from Leh and demonstrated its hot and high hover performance at Daulat Beg Oldie (DBO) Advanced Landing Ground at 5,000 MAMSL. The helicopter also demonstrated its payload capability in Siachen Glacier. During the trials, pilots landed the helicopter at the highest helipads of Amar and Sonam,” the HAL stated.According to Arup Chatterjee, Director (Engineering and R&D), HAL, the performance of the helicopter and its systems are satisfactorily fulfilling users’ requirements.
