Multi-mission aircraft's first prototype soon

It is expected to complete the certification programme by the end of 2013.
But wait for NAL’s version of the prototype, despite NAL being the designer of the aircraft, will be long.

Speaking to Deccan Herald, NAL’s Sridhar Murthy said: “Mahindra’s Gippsland Aeronautics is making the first prototype in Australia and it is expected to fly anytime. May be in a week or two.”

Designed at CISR-NAL, the NM5-100 is the first aircraft developed under public-private partnership with Mahindra Aerospace Limited and can be used for varied applications, including pilot-training, air ambulance, cargo purposes besides for tourism promotion.
The prototype, subject to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation’s (DGCA) certification under the FAR23 regulations will be put through elaborate tests before being taken to the production level.

Competing with the Cessna aircraft which India uses for multi-missions, NAL officials claimed the NM5-100 would reduce costs by at least 15 to 20 per cent.

Also, the Mahindra group will, in order to take the aircraft to the global market, prepare prototypes for international certification.

There was no confirmation on the second prototype from both the stables, which was part of the original plan.

Murthy said that the NAL’s version of the prototype, being manufactured in Bangalore, would be ready to fly in the first quarter of next year, followed by flight testing and documentation for certification.

Sources in the NAL said that Union Science and Technology Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, who visited NAL on Monday, took stock of the progress made in the project, besides reviewing other projects.

Deshmukh, in his speech at the CSIR-NAL foundation day, said that Centre was committed to provide about Rs 4,000 crore for the design and development of the proposed National Civil Aircraft Development Programme, aimed at providing regional connectivity.