Hindustan Aeronautics’ Light Utility Helicopter project has achieved a milestone this month as the third prototype for its test program made its maiden flight.
The flight, which took place on December 14, was conducted by the test pilots Wing Commander (retired) Anil Bhambhani and Group Captain (retired) M R Anand.
The Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) is a 3-ton class single engine helicopter indigenously designed and developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd’s (HAL) Rotary Wing Research and Design Center.
The flight was successful and the prototype will now be used alongside the two other prototypes towards certification for the Light Utility Helicopter (LUH).
The first prototype LUH was carried out on September 6, 2016 and the second prototype flew on May 22, 2017.
Earlier this month the LUH successfully flew at an altitude of 20,000ft. High altitude cold weather trials of LUH are planned for January 2019.
