The Hindu : LCA to be tested with Kaveri engine

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Aug 22, 2003

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National

LCA to be tested with Kaveri engine

By Harichandan A.A.

BANGALORE AUG. 21. The Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), which now flies on an American engine, may make "limited flights'' on an indigenous engine by the end of 2005 or early 2006, according to sources.

"Now it will be possible to fly the aircraft on the Kaveri engine in a limited way in two-and-a-half years,'' the sources told The Hindu. The Kaveri engine was tested for altitude two months ago in Moscow, Russia. "There is a standby engine here. But there is no likelihood of the engine facing any problem in future tests,'' the sources added.

The sources said that there were five engines, of which one was being tested in Russia. The altitude test simulated the temperature, pressure and other conditions that the engine would be subjected to in flight. In less than a year, an important test, which would "qualify the engine to be fitted on the aircraft for flight,'' would be conducted. Thereafter "the limited flights, similar to the flight tests being conducted now, will begin,'' the sources said.

The limited flight tests would be at subsonic speeds and would be done on the "lightest" version of the aircraft. This meant that the aircraft would not have any weapons or the extra fuel tank it would have in its final configuration, the sources said.

A decision on which technology demonstrator to fit the Kaveri engine with would only be taken after the "qualifying test,'' the sources said.

Saras

Meanwhile, the civilian aircraft, Saras, being developed by the National Aerospace Laboratory, will have a flying prototype by the end of this year, according to the Aerospace Laboratory's Director, B.R. Pai.

The aircraft was being put through the "normal weight reduction process'' after which the prototype would be flown, he said.

The Saras will be built for passenger, cargo, civilian and defence use.

The aircraft flies on the Canadian Prat and Whitney engines.

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