<p>On Monday, the LCH lifted off smoothly for its maiden flight at Helicopter Complex, Bangalore. The 20-minute flight provided the pilots an opportunity to carry out low speed, low altitude checks on the various systems on board. The performance of the helicopter and systems was satisfactory, said a release from HAL. The LCH is a dedicated attack helicopter derived from the Advanced Light Helicopter and is fitted with Weapon Systems, Mission Systems and Crashworthy Wheel Landing Gear with in-built Stealth characteristics.<br /><br />The maiden flight of LCH marks the successful culmination of three years of design and development efforts by Rotary Wing Research and Design Centre of Helicopter Complex. A full- fledged qualification test programme would follow, leading to initial operation clearance by December 2011 towards induction into the Indian Armed Services, the release said.</p>
<p>On Monday, the LCH lifted off smoothly for its maiden flight at Helicopter Complex, Bangalore. The 20-minute flight provided the pilots an opportunity to carry out low speed, low altitude checks on the various systems on board. The performance of the helicopter and systems was satisfactory, said a release from HAL. The LCH is a dedicated attack helicopter derived from the Advanced Light Helicopter and is fitted with Weapon Systems, Mission Systems and Crashworthy Wheel Landing Gear with in-built Stealth characteristics.<br /><br />The maiden flight of LCH marks the successful culmination of three years of design and development efforts by Rotary Wing Research and Design Centre of Helicopter Complex. A full- fledged qualification test programme would follow, leading to initial operation clearance by December 2011 towards induction into the Indian Armed Services, the release said.</p>
