Date:09/02/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/02/09/stories/2008020953841300.htm

National

Tejas flight, with drop tanks, successful

Ravi Sharma

BANGALORE: An important step towards the initial operational clearance (IOC) of India’s light combat aircraft Tejas was taken here on Thursday, when PV1 (prototype vehicle one) undertook its first successful flight powered by fuel from two drop tanks.

Drop tanks not only increase an aircraft’s endurance but also allow the pilot to jettison them, if need be, once their purpose is served.

Programme Director P.S. Subramanayam told The Hindu that the aircraft flew for an hour and 24 minutes with the drop tanks, which carried 800 litres of fuel. At the end of the flight, some fuel remained in the internal tank.

“This is a major achievement as we work towards the IOC target date of 2010. This test will also give the Air Force added confidence in the Tejas.” While the internal tanks allow the Tejas to perform a 40-minute sortie, the drop tanks will increase its endurance by almost an hour.

According to sources, the tests show that the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), designer of the LCA, have fixed the issue of fuel supply from the drop tanks. But the ADA will still have to manage issues of the aircraft’s centre of gravity when the drop tanks are jettisoned.