India’s first indigenously developed flying trainer aircraft “HANSA-NG” has successfully completed its sea-level trials at Puducherry from 19th February to 5th March 2022.
The aircraft was flown to Puducherry covering 140 nautical miles in one and half hours at a cruising speed of 155 km/hr on 19th February 22.
It was piloted by Wg. Cdr. K V Prakash and Wg. Cdr. Dilip Reddy of ASTE. The flight was monitored by CSIR-NAL designers and Wg. Cdr. Reeju Chakraborty as Flight Test Director from telemetry.
What is HANSA NG?
HANSA-NG is India’s first indigenously developed flying trainer aircraft. It is one of the most advanced flying trainers powered by Rotax Digital Control Engine.
Its unique features include Just-In-Time Prepreg (JIPREG) Composite lightweight Airframe, Glass Cockpit, Bubble Canopy with wide panoramic view, electrically operated flaps, etc.
It is designed to meet the Indian flying club needs and it is an ideal aircraft for Commercial Pilot Licensing (CPL) due to its low cost and low fuel consumption.
HANSA-NG has been designed and developed by CSIR-National Aerospace Laboratories, Bangalore under the aegis of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research.
Objectives of Sea Level Trials
The objectives of sea level trials of HANSA NG were to evaluate handling qualities, climb and cruise performance, balked landing, structural performance including positive and negative G, power plant, and other systems performance.
CSIR-NAL sources said that all the objectives of the sea level trials are met and the aircraft has been ferried back to Bangalore on 5th March 2022 after completing 18 hours flying at Puducherry.
NAL has already received more than 80 nos. of LoIs (Letter of Intents) from various flying clubs.
Director, CSIR-NAL stated that a total of 37 flights and 50 hours of flying completed, and a few more flights will be conducted before getting Type Certification by DGCA.
Type Certification is likely to be completed by April 2022 and thereafter the manufacturing will be initiated with both Public and Private enterprises which will enhance the aerospace ecosystem under Atmanirbhar Bharat.
Dr. Shekhar C Mande, DG, CSIR while congratulating the team has lauded the commendable efforts put by the integrated team of CSIR-NAL, ASTE, DGCA, and HAL to achieve this important milestone.