HANSA-NG completes sea-level trials

India’s first indigenous flying trainer HANSA-NG, designed and developed by the National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL) in Bengaluru, has successfully completed the sea-level trials at Puducherry between February 19 and March 5.
NAL, which operates under the aegis of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) said in a statement issued on Saturday that the aircraft was flown to Puducherry covering a distance of 140 nautical miles in one-and-half hours at a cruising speed of 155km/hr on February 19.
 “The objective of these trials were to evaluate handling qualities, climb / cruise performance, baulked landing, structural performance including positive and negative G (gravitational pull), power plant and other systems performance at sea-level,” the statement read.

Officials said that all objectives of the sea-level trials have been met and the aircraft has been ferried back to Bengaluru on Friday after completing 18 hours flying at Puducherry.
The aircraft was piloted by Wg Cdr KV Prakash and Wg Cdr Dilip Reddy of Aircraft and Systems Testing Establishment (ASTE) and monitored by NAL designers and Wg Cd. Reeju Chakraborty as flight test director from telemetry.
“HANSA-NG is one of the most advanced flying trainer powered by Rotax Digital Control engine with unique features like Just-In-Time Prepreg (JIPREG) Composite lightweight Airframe, Glass Cockpit, Bubble Canopy with wide panoramic view, electrically operated flaps etc,” NAL said.

Stating that HANSA-NG is designed to meet the Indian flying club needs, NAL said it has already received more than 80 Letters of Intent (LoIs)from various flying clubs.
With 37 flights and 50 hours of flying completed, NAL said the aircraft will see a few more flights before getting type certification by DGCA. “It is expected to be completed by April 2022 after which the manufacturing will be initiated with public/private industry,” NAL added.
-B