ALH test flight successful

NEW DELHI, March 24: A Naval prototype of the indigenously developed Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) accomplished 11 hours of defect free test flying from warships during trials exclusively scheduled to establish its performance in a marine environment.

The development puts the country into a select band of maritime nations capable of operating indigenously made twin engine multi-purpose combat helicopters from small decks of warships.

Cdr Krishnan Kumar, Navy test pilot and Wg Cdr (retd) CD Upadhyay deputy chief test pilot landed the ALH-PTN (protoytpe navy) on the aircraft carrier INS Viraat last week. The more exacting task of landing the helicopter atop a moving frigate was executed by Lt Cdr AK Gulati and Upadhyay.