LCH and other Helicopters Discussion Thread

Sid · Post by **Sid** » 05 May 2010 14:25

mandrake wrote:Link

IR-suppressor adorns the ALH
Wednesday, 16 January 2008

The performance of indigenously developed IR-suppressor for engine exhaust duct of Advanced Light Helicopter masterminded by the Department of Aerospace Engineering, IIT Bombay is proved successful by ground tests conducted in RWR&DC HAL - Bangalore, in Dec'07. The non-specific stealth design concepts behind this critical component will soon be published in AIAA's Journal of Propulsion & Power, authored by Prof. Mahulikar & his M.Tech. students, Mr. H.S.S. Prasad & Mr. S.K. Potnuru.

Reported in 2008 and even after 2.5 years still no sign of IR-suppressors on ALH/LCH? for LCH its even more crucial as over Himalayas under extreme cold, it will light up with a big beep on Stingers.

Kartik · Post by **Kartik** » 05 May 2010 22:02

Sid wrote: Reported in 2008 and even after 2.5 years still no sign of IR-suppressors on ALH/LCH? for LCH its even more crucial as over Himalayas under extreme cold, it will light up with a big beep on Stingers.

I've written about this earlier. Just go back 1 or 2 pages. IIT has been working on this for a while now and the LCH already features one type of a design (BHO) that suppresses IR signature. And right now, the aim is to validate the LCH's flight characteristics. It's also well above the original design intent weight. When they manage to reduce the weight substantially, they'll be able to add additional IR suppressors.

Sagrawal · Post by **Sagrawal** » 06 May 2010 12:02

So what did your panwalla say about the video????[/quote]

I am going to meet him this weekend. Will let you guys know.

chiru · Post by **chiru** » 06 May 2010 15:38

please bring it to the blore BR meet if you can or please upload it somewhere and give the links to the mods atleast ...so they can send it to us

Sagrawal · Post by **Sagrawal** » 06 May 2010 15:54

chiru wrote:please bring it to the blore BR meet if you can or please upload it somewhere and give the links to the mods atleast ...so they can send it to us

I will bring it to Blore BR meet.

pushkar.bhat · Post by **pushkar.bhat** » 06 May 2010 17:15

NRao wrote:
Anantz wrote:Caught the LCH doing a couple of rounds above HAL airport just now. It was accompanied by a chase Dhruv. After 3 - 4 rounds, the Dhruv gave way and the LCH started flying solo, it flew a circle towards Leela palace side and turned around towards the airport. Was an awesome site... The chopper sure looks sleek!
I assume you do not have a terrace view nor a good camera. Else we could make you a top notch reporter.

BTW did anyone notice the Nimbu under the wheels

Gaur · Post by **Gaur** » 06 May 2010 17:31

It was mentioned by another forum member. Unfortunately, I have failed to spot any pic showing that. Could you please post a pic with the nimbu highlighted?

pushkar.bhat · Post by **pushkar.bhat** » 06 May 2010 18:10

Gaur wrote:It was mentioned by another forum member. Unfortunately, I have failed to spot any pic showing that. Could you please post a pic with the nimbu highlighted?

Link added Look out just below the wheel for the yellow color stuff

srs · Post by **srs** » 09 May 2010 10:19

Any update on LCH??? any new pics?? video???

Sagrawal · Post by **Sagrawal** » 09 May 2010 11:33

srs wrote:Any update on LCH??? any new pics?? video???

Sorry guys, I asked my Chaiwalla and the verdict is not to make the LCH video public yet. I will post it on BRF as soon as any LCH video is released in public domain officialy. I dont want to be the guy who leaked it first.

Venu · Post by **Venu** » 09 May 2010 11:44

Yeah. Hold it for now. May be they don't want to release its videos untill the official presentation to babus.

Any idea when it is going to take place? I thought they would do it towards april end, but it didn't happen.

Gaur · Post by **Gaur** » 09 May 2010 14:03

pushkar.bhat wrote:
Gaur wrote:It was mentioned by another forum member. Unfortunately, I have failed to spot any pic showing that. Could you please post a pic with the nimbu highlighted?
Link added Look out just below the wheel for the yellow color stuff

Thanks. I am able to spot it now.

Pratik_S · Post by **Pratik_S** » 09 May 2010 19:28

LCH to make official first flight on 21st.
http://angle-of-attack.blogspot.com/201 ... ht-on.html

wig · Post by **wig** » 09 May 2010 21:34

lch is good looking. good hunting!

rohitvats · Post by **rohitvats** » 09 May 2010 23:30

smpratik wrote:LCH to make official first flight on 21st.
http://angle-of-attack.blogspot.com/201 ... ht-on.html

Have seen it flying a number of times now. However, no client meetings on 21st. Period.

shiv · Post by **shiv** » 10 May 2010 19:21

Actually it would be great to see the LCH fly like a standard Dhruv. However on the two occasions that I saw it fly - it was very very tame. Slow, level flight. Not that I am complaining. the testing has to be done in whatever way the testers deem fit and not to satisfy my whims.

chetak · Post by **chetak** » 10 May 2010 19:39

shiv wrote:Actually it would be great to see the LCH fly like a standard Dhruv. However on the two occasions that I saw it fly - it was very very tame. Slow, level flight. Not that I am complaining. the testing has to be done in whatever way the testers deem fit and not to satisfy my whims.

Shiv ji,

These are the very first series of flights of a new prototype aircraft.

Its all experimental at this stage and prototype flying quite dangerous and demanding.

Most performance predictions at this stage are theoretical.

I don't wonder that they are starting out in a "tame" manner. This is infinitely better than the approach of some of the other experimental flight test groups.

Pratik_S · Post by **Pratik_S** » 10 May 2010 20:19

shiv wrote:Actually it would be great to see the LCH fly like a standard Dhruv. However on the two occasions that I saw it fly - it was very very tame. Slow, level flight. Not that I am complaining. the testing has to be done in whatever way the testers deem fit and not to satisfy my whims.

LCH flew close to 150kmphs on one occasion. We can assume that it will fly like Dhruv and other helos after the official test.

shiv · Post by **shiv** » 10 May 2010 20:37

smpratik wrote: LCH flew close to 150kmphs on one occasion. We can assume that it will fly like Dhruv and other helos after the official test.

Oh I am sure they will do a super job. No Indian must forget how competently the LCA test program has been conducted given the constraints we face. The Dhruv is an absolute pleasure to watch as part of the Sarangs.

Bala Vignesh · Post by **Bala Vignesh** » 10 May 2010 23:11

smpratik wrote:LCH to make official first flight on 21st.
http://angle-of-attack.blogspot.com/201 ... ht-on.html

That does it... I am taking 21st off an perching myself on the Manipal Hospital's terrace.. That should give me a good view of the events, if they are held in HAL airport.. Or drive down to Dad's office and catch the show from there...

Yagnasri · Post by **Yagnasri** » 11 May 2010 09:46

Good luck

shiv · Post by **shiv** » 11 May 2010 10:25

Bala Vignesh wrote:
smpratik wrote:LCH to make official first flight on 21st.
http://angle-of-attack.blogspot.com/201 ... ht-on.html
That does it... I am taking 21st off an perching myself on the Manipal Hospital's terrace.. That should give me a good view of the events, if they are held in HAL airport.. Or drive down to Dad's office and catch the show from there...

Perch with a good camera - preferably a camcorder. I suspect there will be more than an LCH show. there may be an LCA flyby as well. Just guessing - assuming there is a planned event for some minishter-shinishter

Pratik_S · Post by **Pratik_S** » 11 May 2010 18:05

I have been informed that the LCH did 280 Kmph on one occasion and apparently it was not doing full throttle.

joygoswami · Post by **joygoswami** » 11 May 2010 19:18

Hi, I have been following this forum for quite sometime now. Cannot wait to see the first live video of the LCH.

karan_mc · Post by **karan_mc** » 11 May 2010 19:46

i am more interested in watch Lch firing weapons then simple flying

rohitvats · Post by **rohitvats** » 11 May 2010 21:44

**********PAGING BRFites**************

We have an open offer from a fellow BRFites to lend his fundoo SLR to click the pic of LCH when it officialy flies on 21st. Any takers?

Contact me at rohitvats29atgmaildotcom.

Bala Vignesh · Post by **Bala Vignesh** » 11 May 2010 23:50

karan_mc wrote:i am more interested in watch Lch firing weapons then simple flying

Sir, I am sure that everyone of us is waiting for that... but its a going to be sometime before that ever happens.. the WSI dhruv itself hasn't done that AFAIK... By the Way, any updates on WSI Dhruv???

vipins · Post by **vipins** » 12 May 2010 00:21

Marten wrote:Past three days, we've been seeing *a helo* flying around at about 5:15-5:45pm over the airport and surrounding areas - CVR Nagar and KGDPura (perhaps someone in DARE has had a word with the pilots so the staff can enjoy the sight as well). Last night, we saw a couple of helos cruise in for a landing at around 8:30pm, but are not sure which crafts but they eased in gently into the landing and did not hover into a landing.

A white chetak and a sarang team dhruv is making lots of rounds around golfcourse area for past 2-3 days.Also saw a LCA took off with loud sound some 3-4 days back.It was carrying 2 white drop tanks .That was the first time I saw a LCA in realty.

chetak · Post by **chetak** » 12 May 2010 10:05

Bala Vignesh wrote:
karan_mc wrote:i am more interested in watch Lch firing weapons then simple flying
Sir, I am sure that everyone of us is waiting for that... but its a going to be sometime before that ever happens.. the WSI dhruv itself hasn't done that AFAIK... By the Way, any updates on WSI Dhruv???

Such are the pressures of PR!!

LCH has yet to auto rotate but panwalla says that they have already flown with external stores.

Where is the hurry saar??

After these very few hours, they seem to have dispensed with the chase aircraft.

Not prudent, IMVHO.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 12 May 2010 11:04

its more urgent the WSI dhruv enter service asap and plug gaps. it has fallen off the radar lately.

Bala Vignesh · Post by **Bala Vignesh** » 12 May 2010 22:59

chetak wrote: Such are the pressures of PR!!

LCH has yet to auto rotate but panwalla says that they have already flown with external stores.

Where is the hurry saar??

After these very few hours, they seem to have dispensed with the chase aircraft.

Not prudent, IMVHO.

Sir, I accept Haste makes waste... So, let them take their own sweet time.. But let the final product be the best... not some compromised solution... And btw sir, these are just desires... we haven't put in any time frames on them have we...

chetak · Post by **chetak** » 13 May 2010 09:20

Bala Vignesh wrote:
chetak wrote: Such are the pressures of PR!!

LCH has yet to auto rotate but panwalla says that they have already flown with external stores.

Where is the hurry saar??

After these very few hours, they seem to have dispensed with the chase aircraft.

Not prudent, IMVHO.
Sir, I accept Haste makes waste... So, let them take their own sweet time.. But let the final product be the best... not some compromised solution... And btw sir, these are just desires... we haven't put in any time frames on them have we...

Bala Vignesh ji,

Many featherbrained things are happening preparatory to saint antony's visit, methinks.

Pratik_S · Post by **Pratik_S** » 13 May 2010 09:30

LCH is flying with dummies, i think they are simulating weight of missiles as well.

chetak · Post by **chetak** » 13 May 2010 09:37

smpratik wrote:LCH is flying with dummies, i think they are simulating weight of missiles as well.

smpratik ji,

Please don't mind saar.

Weight is not the issue, aerodynamics is.

Pratik_S · Post by **Pratik_S** » 13 May 2010 09:40

@Mr chetak
Actually both are, its also important to know how the aircraft performs when loaded.

Bala Vignesh · Post by **Bala Vignesh** » 13 May 2010 09:45

smpratik wrote:@Mr chetak
Actually both are, its also important to know how the aircraft performs when loaded.

True sir, but for that first we have to evaluate aerodynamics of the airframe and them go with the weight

sathyaC · Post by **sathyaC** » 13 May 2010 09:51

chetak wrote:
smpratik wrote:LCH is flying with dummies, i think they are simulating weight of missiles as well.
smpratik ji,

Please don't mind saar.

Weight is not the issue, aerodynamics is.

weight is very important as their will lot changes in the AC as it makes turns with wrights

shiv · Post by **shiv** » 13 May 2010 10:09

I think that when you have helicopter shaped lump of metal and composites sitting in front of you you need to know
1) Can the damn thing take off?
2) If it takes off can it fly?
3) If it flies can it land?(safely)
4) if it can do all 3 above can it fly like it is supposed to fly?
5) Can it fly like it is supposed to fly while carrying a payload?
6) Can it actually use that payload in the designed manner?

I think we have reached point 4.

Sid · Post by **Sid** » 13 May 2010 10:27

^^^
That's what chetak ji is trying to say, we have jumped straight to point 5 without validating all previous points. That too in first 10 or so flights.

Safety should not compromised just to put up a show for some babu. Report on Saras proto crash is a must read for all HAL personals.

krishnan · Post by **krishnan** » 13 May 2010 10:42

Safety has been compromised? I dont think so