<p>The Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas Limited Series Production–7 made its maiden flight on Friday and a delighted team Tejas said all the mission parameters were satisfactory.<br /><br /></p>.<p>During the test flight, performance of the aircraft systems including Multi-mode Radar (MMR), Helmet Mounted Display System (HMDS), Auto-pilot and Instrument Landing System (ILS) were tested to be satisfactory.<br /><br />The aircraft took off from the HAL airport at 4:27 pm and had a 28-minute flight. This test flight is significant for the programme, as LSP-7 build standard is close to the initial operational clearance (IOC) standard.<br /><br />For it will be the LSP-7 and LSP-8 aircraft that will be offered to the Indian Air Force (IAF) for user evaluation trials (UET).<br /><br />“The flight was also significant considering the fact that for the first time Production Test Schedule was used for the first flight of a LSP aircraft in this programme,” DRDO said in a press release.<br /><br />This is also the first time maiden flight of a prototype was not accompanied by the customary ‘chase’ aircraft, which is an indicator to the level of confidence in the machine.<br /><br />Group Captain K K Venugopal was at the controls in the cockpit while Wing Commander Kabadwal of the National Flight Test Centre (NFTC) was Test Director in the telemetry.</p>
<p>The Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas Limited Series Production–7 made its maiden flight on Friday and a delighted team Tejas said all the mission parameters were satisfactory.<br /><br /></p>.<p>During the test flight, performance of the aircraft systems including Multi-mode Radar (MMR), Helmet Mounted Display System (HMDS), Auto-pilot and Instrument Landing System (ILS) were tested to be satisfactory.<br /><br />The aircraft took off from the HAL airport at 4:27 pm and had a 28-minute flight. This test flight is significant for the programme, as LSP-7 build standard is close to the initial operational clearance (IOC) standard.<br /><br />For it will be the LSP-7 and LSP-8 aircraft that will be offered to the Indian Air Force (IAF) for user evaluation trials (UET).<br /><br />“The flight was also significant considering the fact that for the first time Production Test Schedule was used for the first flight of a LSP aircraft in this programme,” DRDO said in a press release.<br /><br />This is also the first time maiden flight of a prototype was not accompanied by the customary ‘chase’ aircraft, which is an indicator to the level of confidence in the machine.<br /><br />Group Captain K K Venugopal was at the controls in the cockpit while Wing Commander Kabadwal of the National Flight Test Centre (NFTC) was Test Director in the telemetry.</p>
