Harman Patil (Editor)

HAL Light Utility Helicopter

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First flight
  
September 6, 2016

HAL Light Utility Helicopter imgetimgcomphoto54032687hallightutilityhel

Manufacturer
  
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited

The HAL Light Utility Helicopter (LUH), and the derivative Light Observation Helicopter (LOH), are single-engine light helicopters under development by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited of India.

Contents

HAL Light Utility Helicopter Navy quotColdquot on Joining HAL39s Light Utility Helicopter LUH Program

Hal light utility helicopter display at aero india 2017


Development

HAL Light Utility Helicopter Light Utility Helicopters from HAL Indian Defence Review

The HAL LUH (Light Utility Helicopter) is a 3-tonne helicopter exclusively built for the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force to replace the aging fleet of Cheetah and Chetak helicopters. The Indian military have a requirement for 384 helicopters of which 187 helicopters will be built by HAL. Production is planned to begin in 2018 at 10 per year, later on going up to 36 per year and delivery of 187 HAL’s LUHs is to be completed by 2022.

HAL Light Utility Helicopter test Test pilots at HAL complete successful flight of indigenous

As of 3 November 2012, the bottom structure assembly of the LUH ground test vehicle is complete and has been taken down from the on December 2012. According to HAL, "LUH assembly jigs are modular and gaugeless jigs, concurrently designed along with structure design using 3D CAD. There are five assembly jigs and a coupling jig enabling modular and concurrent build- up of the structure. The jigs are built and validated using state-of-the-art CAMS-Computer Aided Measurement System (laser tracker) to establish high accuracy and stability.

HAL Light Utility Helicopter FIRST PHOTOS HAL39s Light Utility Helicopter Makes Its First

Although originally scheduled to first fly in 2015, the first prototype of HAL LUH (ZG4620) made its maiden flight on 6 September 2016 at Bangalore.

Specifications

Data from Livefist HAL

General characteristics


  • Crew: 2
  • Capacity: up to 6 passengers
  • Empty weight: 1,910 kg (4,211 lb)
  • Max takeoff weight: 3,150 kg (6,945 lb)
  • Powerplant: 1 × HAL/Turbomeca Shakti 1U turboshaft engine, 1,272 kW (1,706 hp)

    • Performance

    HAL Light Utility Helicopter HAL Light Observation HelicopterLOHLight utility Helicopter LUH

  • Cruise speed: 220 km/h (137 mph; 119 kn)
  • Never exceed speed: 250 km/h (155 mph; 135 kn)
  • Range: 350 km (217 mi; 189 nmi)
  • Service ceiling: 6,500 m (21,300 ft)
  • Rate of climb: 7.5 m/s (1,480 ft/min)
  • Fuel consumption: 0.69 kg/km (2.4 lb/mi)
  • Thrust/weight: 5.6

    • References

    HAL Light Utility Helicopter Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA