Indian state-owned company Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) announced on 9 September that its Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) recently demonstrated its capability to operate in hot weather and high altitudes after successfully completing 10 day of trials in the Himalayas.
The company said in a statement that a comprehensive test plan that included “envelope expansion, performance, and flying qualities” in temperatures up to +32°C was carried out at Leh, which is about 3,300 m above sea level.
It also said the LUH demonstrated its “hot and high hover performance” at the Daulat Beg Oldie Advanced Landing Ground, which is about 5,000 m above sea level.
The platform also validated its payload capability at high altitudes during tests carried out at the 5,400 m-high Siachen Glacier, said HAL, adding that pilots landed the helicopter at the highest helipads of Amar and Sonam.
