Early Times Report
Jammu, Jan 28: With three consecutive start-ups of its engine after overnight soak in extreme cold around minus 15 degrees Celsius of Laddakh winter, that too without any external assistance, Tejas, the Indian Light Combat Aircraft, has achieved a rare distinction. "LCA Tejas has achieved yet another and a rare distinction with three consecutive start-ups of its engine after overnight soak in extreme cold around minus 15 degrees C conditions of Laddakh winter, that too without any external assistance," a Defenece spokesman of the Northern Command said today. Starting the fighter aircraft under such extreme condition without any external assistance or heating is a technology challenge, he said. "The requirements become further stringent when the starting is to be done three times consecutively with a partially charged battery. Team LCA led by AERD and C of HAL, and members from ADA, NFTC, IAF, CEMILAC and DGAQA have succeeded in achieving this," he said. "The team LCA has achieved a technological breakthrough," stated P S Subramanyam, PGD (CA) and Director, ADA. The engine starter is developed indigenously by HAL Aero Engine Research and Design Centre (AERDC), Bangalore, the spokesman said, adding that prior to aircraft tests, the Jet Fuel Starter was extensively tested on test rig to meet starting conditions across the operating altitudes, including Leh (10,700 ft) and Khardungla (18,300 ft).
The control software of JFS was fine tuned to work at all operating altitudes with no adjustments from cockpit. GE-F404- IN20 engine start up control schedule was also varied with several control patches to establish reliable start, he said. |