LUH makes first flight, hovers in air for 15 mins

BENGALURU: A prototype of the indigenous light utility helicopter (LUH) took off at 12.15pm on Tuesday, marking the first flight of the chopper. A 187-unit order for it has already been placed with defence PSU Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
Sources in HAL said the firm's chief test pilot Wing Commander Unni Pillai and test pilot Anil Bhambhani were in the cockpit for the first flight."It took off at 12.15pm and was in the air for 15 minutes. It was a technical flight and several parameters were tested," said the source.
LUH is a single-engine multi-purpose helicopter in the 3-tonne class and is designed to perform various roles like policing, urban surveillance, medical ambulance etc.
HAL has been keen on LUH for a while now and even embarked on a separate complex for chopper production in Tumakuru, which will largely focus on LUH. The first flight was to take place sometime last year, but there has been a considerable delay.
Speaking about the chopper complex in Tumakuru, HAL chairman T Survarna Raju had told TOI earlier: "Activities that support Light Combat Helicopter (LCH), and Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Dhruv will also be taken up in the new complex."
However, the primary responsibility will be to produce the LUH. Raju had said if everything was smooth, the unit could be operational by 2017-18. It will have the initial capacity to build 3-tonne class and 10-tonne class of helicopters and will be able to build about five 3-tonne class of LUHs per year.