Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. flew its Light Combat Helicopter that is under development for 20 minutes on Wednesday using its own Automatic Flight Control System for the first time.

The indigenous AFCS is also the first to be designed and made in the country.

HAL said: “The maiden flight of LCH (Technology Demonstrator-2) was flawless with the engagement of the system throughout.” The LCH got its initial operational clearance on August 26 last year.

The Defence enterprise has funded the development of the hardware, software of the AFCS, which will replace the expensive imported system, said T. Suvarna Raju, HAL’s CMD.

HAL’s research and development centres — the Rotary Wing R&D Centre and the MCSRDC at Bengaluru, SLRDC at Hyderabad and Korwa Division — are involved in its development.

The digital, four-axis flight control system is capable of performing control and stability augmentation functions and auto pilot modes of helicopters.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Karnataka / by Special Correspondent / Bengaluru – January 31st, 2018