The Hindu newspaper. Harry was on the dot. 200-210 flights
for FCS and manouver validation.
Bangalore, April 3. (PTI): Tejas, the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft, has completed the technology demonstration and the first phase of full scale engineering development activities with the completion of over 200 test flights.
Three aircraft, the technology demonstrator-1 (TD-1), the technology demonstrator 2 (TD2) and the Prototype Vehicle-1 (PV1) have flown a total of 125 hours and completed 204 flight test sorties including 35 supersonic flights, an Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) statement said here today.
ADA, the Bangalore-based DRDO outfit, has designed and developed the indigenous tailless delta-winged multi-role aircraft and a limited series production of eight aircraft is being concurrently produced at Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd.
Tejas, meaning Radiance, has reached a speed of 1.4 Mach (Speed of sound is One Mach) and an altitude of 15 km.
“The supersonic dash at high and medium altitudes, the climb with full afterburner to service ceiling (15 km), barrel and Cuban rolls and high angle of attack and high `G’ manoeuvres have been successfully demonstrated in the flight tests,” it said.
Six IAF pilots have done the flight tests of these aircraft that made its maiden flight in January 2001.
Tejas, powered by an American GE-404 engine, has to undergo tests of about 1,500 to 2,000 hours to attain certification which is expected by 2007 and HAL plans to deliver the eight aircraft by around the same time.
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