N-LCA NP-2 First Flight Successful!

[Hindustani78]

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/lcanp2-makes-debut-flight/article6869085.ece?ref=sliderNews
Updated: February 7, 2015 18:23 IST
LCA-NP2 makes debut flight
Special Correspondent
LCA-NP2, the second prototype of the Navy version of the Light Combat Aircraft, taking off on its maiden flight from the HAL runway in Bangalore on Saturday.

The second prototype of the Navy version of the Light Combat Aircraft took off from the Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd runway at 12.27 p.m. and flew for about 35 minutes.
LCA-NP2, the second prototype of the Navy version of the Light Combat Aircraft, flew for the first time on Saturday.

It took off from the Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd runway at 12.27 p.m. and flew for about 35 minutes, said HAL, the production partner in the indigenous fighter programme. Officials of HAL, the Aeronautical Development Agency, safety certifying agency CEMILAC and other DRDO officials watched the flight.

HAL Chairman T. Suvarna Raju said a main contribution in it was the new and complex landing gear designed for NP-2 by engineers of the Aircraft Research and Design Centre.

Navy test pilot Captain Shivnath Dahiya of the National Flight Test Centre flew the NP-2. The chase aircraft cover was provided by a limited series production aircraft (LSP2) piloted by Gp. Capt. Suneet Krishna (retd).

 

[Abingdonboy]

Basically the twin seat version with the rear seat and cockpit dialysis taken out an replaced by a fuel tank like on the MiG-29K as compared to the MiG-29KUB.

 

[trident2010]

Looking good.

 

[Screambowl]

can any one explain, why there is more deep angle of the nose cone, like drooped

 

[gslv mk3]

can any one explain, why there is more deep angle of the nose cone, like drooped

For better forward visibility.

 

[GORKHALI]

Darin 3 Jugad for more airflow.

 

[Hindustani78]

Second prototype of naval version of LCA-Tejas tested successfully | Zee News
Last Updated: Saturday, February 7, 2015 - 21:12

Bengaluru: Hindustan Aeronautical Limited (HAL) on Saturday successfully tested the second prototype of naval variant of Light Combat Aircraft (LCA)-Tejas here.


The naval version of the LCA has a complex landing gear design which is significantly different from its Air Force version.

HAL Chairman, T Suvarna Raju, attributed the success of the test to its complex landing gear design.

He also said that the indigenous carrier borne fighter program is making steady headway.

Other technical features of the indigenous aircraft like the Carrier Compatibility technology including arrested landing and ski-Jump take off was initially tested at Shore Based Test Facility (SBTF) in Goa.

Earlier this week, LCA- Tejas had passed a cold weather test at Leh during which the aircraft made three consecutive starts using indigenous gas turbine starter at minus 15 degrees

 

[gslv mk3]

View attachment 191016

Darin 3 Jugad for more airflow.

nothing new..

 

[Otocal]

When will it land and take off from vikramaditya?

 

[ravindra1455]

l

LCA-NP2 makes debut flight - The Hindu
Updated: February 7, 2015 18:23 IST
LCA-NP2 makes debut flight
Special Correspondent
LCA-NP2, the second prototype of the Navy version of the Light Combat Aircraft, taking off on its maiden flight from the HAL runway in Bangalore on Saturday.

The second prototype of the Navy version of the Light Combat Aircraft took off from the Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd runway at 12.27 p.m. and flew for about 35 minutes.
LCA-NP2, the second prototype of the Navy version of the Light Combat Aircraft, flew for the first time on Saturday.

It took off from the Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd runway at 12.27 p.m. and flew for about 35 minutes, said HAL, the production partner in the indigenous fighter programme. Officials of HAL, the Aeronautical Development Agency, safety certifying agency CEMILAC and other DRDO officials watched the flight.

HAL Chairman T. Suvarna Raju said a main contribution in it was the new and complex landing gear designed for NP-2 by engineers of the Aircraft Research and Design Centre.

Navy test pilot Captain Shivnath Dahiya of the National Flight Test Centre flew the NP-2. The chase aircraft cover was provided by a limited series production aircraft (LSP2) piloted by Gp. Capt. Suneet Krishna (retd).

Looks very impressive

 

[jarves]

Still waiting for SP2

When will it land and take off from vikramaditya?

Considering the fact that this project is running atleast 4 years behind schedule so most probably no chance before 2017.

 

[Echo_419]

Still waiting for SP2


Considering the fact that this project is running atleast 4 years behind schedule so most probably no chance before 2017.

Me too hope they outsource some work to Pvt Sector to speed up the production

 

[Hindustani78]

When will it land and take off from vikramaditya?

In November 2014 , INS Vikramaditya has completed 1 year in Indian Navy and has spent total of 220 days at sea and its aircraft have carried out 240 takeoffs and landings.

So i think things are going the way which has been planned by the Indian planners.

 

[Otocal]

In November 2014 , INS Vikramaditya has completed 1 year in Indian Navy and has spent total of 220 days at sea and its aircraft have carried out 240 takeoffs and landings.

So i think things are going the way which has been planned by the Indian planners.

Thats Mig29K take off and landing not N-Tejas.

Why has Navy only ordered 6 Tejas? Is it trying to scuttle Tejas like it scuttled Trishul?

 

[sancho]

Basically the twin seat version with the rear seat and cockpit dialysis taken out an replaced by a fuel tank like on the MiG-29K as compared to the MiG-29KUB.

Which again shows how clueless ADA / DRDO are going on with this project. Taking the twin seat cockpit design of the Su 30, or the Mig 29KUB fuel tank solution is good, but they prefered US companies for the navalisation and ended up with Airbus, just as pilots are trained by USN not by Russian navy that operats STOBAR carriers and Mig 29Ks.
Btw, if that is the final solution for the fuel tank, that confirms my estimates that NLCA has nowhere near the fuel capacity needed for the operations from a carrier, let alone that they need more internal fuel to not carry wing fuel tanks and then free hardpoints. However this solution with such a large tank and the angled cockpit section comes with a lot of disadvantages too!

Compare the backward visibility of the pilot in both and you will see that the angled cockpit of the N-LCA puts the fuel tank much higher than in the Mig, not to mention that the fuel tank in the Mig is kept much below the canopy to keep good visibility.
Apart from that, the empty weight of a twin seat config, especially such a large one like on the LCAs, will add to the emptyweight compared to a single seater. And it would be interesting to know if the lack of back seat and displays will counter the weight of this large fuel tank, or if that adds more weight too.

LCA MK1 single seater - 6560Kg empty
LCA MK1 twin seater - 6560Kg empty + 200Kg at least
NLCA MK1 twin seater - 6560Kg empty + 200Kg at least + navalisation, some reports said up to 1000Kg more initially
NLCA MK1 single pilot - 6560Kg empty + 200Kg at least + navalisation, some reports said up to 1000Kg more initially (+ fuel tank - backseat and displays)

Not to forget that the final N-LCA will be based on the MK2, with lengthened airframe, larger fuselage, 3 more internal fuel tanks, heavier engine, radar and avionics, IFR probe...
Would you realistically expect an empty weight below 8000Kg even for the single pilot N-LCA MK2?