NLCA NPI completes first ski-jump successfully from SBTF.

[thesolar65]

Post No.34 shows a drag parachute. So will the N-LCA while landing on IAC-1 or Vikramaditya (in future) open its drag parachute? If yes then will it not cause problem for other aircraft to take off in short duration?

@Abingdonboy @ashok321

 

[Abingdonboy]

Post No.34 shows a drag parachute. So will the N-LCA while landing on IAC-1 or Vikramaditya (in future) open its drag parachute? If yes then will it not cause problem for other aircraft to take off in short duration?

@Abingdonboy @ashok321

No it won't bro, the N-LCA is being designed as a STOBAR (short take off but arrested recovery) i.e. using an arrestor hook attaching to an arrestor wire to slow down sufficiently. The NP-1 does not have an arrestor hook and thus used the drag parachute today. NP-2 will have an arrestor hook and this is the next big milestone we should be looking out for- NP-2 making an arrested landing at the SBTF.

 

[sathya]

No it won't bro, the N-LCA is being designed as a STOBAR (short take off but arrested recovery) i.e. using an arrestor hook attaching to an arrestor wire to slow down sufficiently. The NP-1 does not have an arrestor hook and thus used the drag parachute today. NP-2 will have an arrestor hook and this is the next big milestone we should be looking out for- NP-2 making an arrested landing at the SBTF.

wirte take indicates arrested landing to happen in 6-8 months time..

 

[Abingdonboy]

@thesolar65:

IN's MiG-29K/KUB making arrested landings on the INS Vikramditya

 

[piyalghoshal]

There is a difference between flying from a aircraft carrier and a stable platform like this :
1)the aircraft carrier has speed and is moving forward, so it adds to speed of the aircraft taking off.....
2)there is pitch and roll also involved

There is no such force in a stable platform like this ,so it starts from little backwards than in the aircraft carrier. This is used for the Mig-29 as well......

 

[Water Car Engineer]

That was awesome, cant wait for the hook landing video.

This year has been fruitful to say the least.

 

[Basel]

Congrats to India.

 

[Koovie]

Congrats to HAL

But what will be the niche for this aircraft?

We already have a superior aircraft in service with the navy....

 

[Whiplash]

Congrats to HAL

But what will be the niche for this aircraft?

We already have a superior aircraft in service with the navy....

If the fact that it's home grown is not enough for you:

It is single engined and lighter. Which means more of these can be carried and they have far lower cost per hour of flight.
So while it may be unsuited for strike roles, it is ideal for CAP.

 

[Koovie]

It is single engined and lighter. Which means more of these can be carried and they have far lower cost per hour of flight.
So while it may be unsuited for strike roles, it is ideal for CAP.

True, the smaller, the more planes fit on a ship.... BUT that does not overcome the technical superiority of the Mig.

And putting two different fighter aircraft on one ship means that you need more space for spare parts, maintenance equipment etc etc etc. Unless both planes can use the same type of parts, equipment etc....

And finally, I doubt that one can tell the cost per hour of a plane that has yet to be accepted by the Navy.

 

[Whiplash]

True, the smaller, the more planes fit on a ship.... BUT that does not overcome the technical superiority of the Mig.

And putting two different fighter aircraft on one ship means that you need more space for spare parts, maintenance equipment etc etc etc. Unless both planes can use the same type of parts, equipment etc....

And finally, I doubt that one can tell the cost per hour of a plane that has yet to be accepted by the Navy.

Single engined planes have a lower cost per hour almost certainly.

 

[GORKHALI]

Bengaluru, Dec 20: India on Saturday created a slice of naval history when the first home-grown naval jet Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Naval Protytype-1 (NP-1), a trainer, took off from the Shore Based Test Facility (SBTF) at INS Hans in Goa for the first time. As reported by OneIndia recently, the NP-1 was piloted by Cmde Jaideep Maolankar, Chief Test Pilot of National Flight Test Centre (NFTC) situated in Bengaluru. The SBTF replicates a static model of the Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC) being built at the Cochin Shipyard in Kerala. The aircraft undertook the ski-jump (take-off) 300 meters away from the ramp - having a curved upward shape at one end. The telemetry feed of the crucial trial was also available at NFTC, which was closely monitored by an expert team.
Sources who witnessed the NP-1 event at SBTF told OneIndia that the aircraft accelerated more than expected. "We were hoping for a 150 knot safe fly away at a climb rate of 6.4 degrees. But, the aircraft had a higher acceleration with a climb rate of around 11 degrees, which showcased the confidence of the pilot on the platform," an official said.

He said as part of the current campaign, NP-1 will have five more tests at SBTF (only ski-jumps) to meet all mission parameters. "Based on the test points achieved, we will schedule the next leg of trials. The aircraft will undertake ski-jumps 90 meters from the ramp, with all weapon stores in place," Dr Tamilmani added.
To a specific query, the top scientist said that the arrester-hook landing trials of NP-1 will be conducted within 6-8 months. He confirmed that the second prototype of naval LCA (NP-2) will undertake its first flight in Bengaluru soon.

LCA Navy creates history in Goa; India joins a superelite club - Oneindia

@Abingdonboy @sancho Answer to all your queries.

 

[brahmastra]

 

[Krate M]

So the better than expected performance of NLCA after better than expected performance of arjun show maturing of the indigenous programs. Well this is just the first test, keep going.
Charaiveti charaiveti.

 

[ashok321]

There is a difference between flying from a aircraft carrier and a stable platform like this :
1)the aircraft carrier has speed and is moving forward, so it adds to speed of the aircraft taking off.....
2)there is pitch and roll also involved

There is no such force in a stable platform like this ,so it starts from little backwards than in the aircraft carrier. This is used for the Mig-29 as well......

Must read on ski-jump Dynamics:
Multi-body dynamic system simulation of carrier-based aircraft ski-jump takeoff