Flying the LUH

The Aero India 2025 show at Yelahanka provided a unique opportunity to experience the Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) firsthand. On February 11, I had the privilege of flying the LUH LSP 003 with Wing Commander Anil Bhambhani, the project pilot—an experience that offered valuable insights into this promising helicopter.

The afternoon flight was scheduled for 1500 hours under a scorching 32 degrees Celsius, resulting in a density altitude of 5,500 ft. After a concise pre-flight briefing, Anil and I walked to the parked LUH. He conducted the external checks with practiced ease, explaining their simplicity. Once strapped into the cockpit, he provided a comprehensive overview of the controls and switches, familiarising me with the glass cockpit display during both startup and flight. The display was intuitively arranged, ensuring easy access to crucial flight information. This particular helicopter was a basic version, yet to be fitted with an automatic flight control system (AFCS). However, it did have a cyclic trim facility and a spring-loaded switch for the collective. For ease of flying, the cyclic trim had been bypassed. Later versions, I learned, would incorporate an autopilot system.

The startup procedure was straightforward. With clearance from the control tower, Anil smoothly lifted the helicopter into a hover taxi towards the runway. The initial lift-off was remarkably smooth, and the hover taxi proved comfortable, with only a slight twitch in yaw. At the runway, Anil handed over the controls to me for takeoff. The initial hover was easily maintained, and the take-off itself was uneventful. Out of habit from flying the Dhruv, I instinctively reached for the cyclic trim switch. Anil gently reminded me that this helicopter lacked that feature, advising me to rely on normal pressure to operate the cyclic. This adjustment made handling the helicopter significantly easier.

After establishing a climb, we levelled off at 800 ft AGL and headed towards Bengaluru airfield. Maintaining a level flight at 110 knots required approximately 60% torque. The high atmospheric temperature and the numerous high-rise buildings along our flight path created significant turbulence, causing the rotors to respond with noticeable twitching.

At HAL airfield, we performed several hover exercises, including spot turns, sideward flights, and a few circuits and landings. Initially, my spot turns were cautious, but Anil demonstrated quick turns to both the left and right, showcasing the helicopter's agility. The left sideward flight into the wind was particularly impressive. I was able to achieve speeds of 20-25 knots with 8-10 knots of crosswind, with ample right rudder authority remaining. Following another takeoff, we climbed back to 800 ft AGL and executed a few steep turns, reaching a 60-degree bank angle and approximately 2+ G. The rotor response was crisp, and the bank angle was easily controlled, indicating good rotor power. While the response was crisper than the Cheetah/Chetak, it wasn't quite as pronounced as in the Dhruv. The future addition of autopilot and auto-trim capabilities will undoubtedly ease out the pilot's workload. In this aircraft, however, considerable rudder work was required, particularly in level flight. The increased rudder activity is primarily due to the continuous offloading of the tail rotor by the vertical fin.

We then joined the circuit at Yelahanka and landed back on the runway. Anil then performed a hover taxi back to the dispersal area.

Overall, it was a thoroughly enjoyable and informative flight. The LUH demonstrated its potential, offering a glimpse into the future of light utility helicopters. The flight highlighted the aircraft's agility and responsiveness, while also revealing areas for improvement, such as the integration of a full authority autopilot system. The experience left me with a strong appreciation for the LUH program and its contribution to the Indian aviation landscape.

Aero India 2025 wasn't just about fighter jets and missiles. For me, the highlight was getting my hands on the LUH LSP 003. The LUH is a game-changer, and here's why it matters to both civilians and military applications. The LUH is a force multiplier for the Indian military.

Military applications include:

Logistics support: Transporting personnel and supplies

Casualty evacuation

Reconnaissance and surveillance

Counter-insurgency operations

Pilot training 

Beyond the military applications, the LUH has immense potential for civilian roles:

Disaster relief: Rapid response in remote or inaccessible areas.

Medical emergencies: Air ambulance capabilities

Law enforcement: Aerial surveillance and rapid deployment. 

Tourism and aerial photography: Scenic flights and surveying

LUH is a testament to Indian aerospace engineering and a glimpse into the future of rotary-wing flight.

(The writer, a Vir Chakra awardee, is an experimental test pilot for rotary wing flying machines and a qualified flying instructor)