New Delhi: India's indigenous aircraft
engine, Kaveri, was successfully flight tested at Gromov
Flight Research Institute in Moscow, the DRDO saidon Wednesday.
The test was conducted at the Flying Test Bed at Gromov,
with the engine running right from the take-off to landing,
flying for a period of over 1 hour up to an altitude of
6,000 metres yesterday, it said in a press release here.
The engine helped the IL-76 aircraft test bed fly at
speeds of 0.6 mach in its maiden flight, according to the
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
"The engine control, performance and health during the
flight were found to be excellent. With this test, Kaveri
engine has completed a major milestone of development
programme," it added
During the coming months, further 50 or 60 test flights
would be carried out to mature the engine in terms of
reliability, safety and airworthiness, it said.
These trials will pave the way for further flight trials
of Kaveri engine with a fighter aircraft.
"An existing IL-76 aircraft was modified as a flying test
bed for this trial with Kaveri engine replacing one of the
four engines of the aircraft. The modifications included
instrumentation required for trials as well as integration of
mechanical, electrical and fuel system," the release said.
The engine was controlled by the pilot from the cockpit
and a number of taxi trials were carried out with the engine
integrated with the aircraft, before the maiden flight.
The engine data was recorded in the aircraft as well as
transmitted to ground station by telemetry.
DRDO Chief Controller (Aeronautics and Services
Integration) was present during the flight trial.
Kaveri is being developed for fighter aircraft at the Gas
Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE) in Bangalore with the
active support of several other DRDO labs, academic
institutions and industry partners.
During development phase, Kaveri engine has successfully
completed various stages of development including component
testing, safety tests, ground-based engine tests, and
endurance tests, both at GTRE as well as at test bed
facilities abroad.
PTI
First Published: Thursday, November 04, 2010, 18:07