• India’s first indigenous flying trainer ‘HANSA-NG’ designed and developed by CSIR-National Aerospace Laboratories, has successfully completed the sea level trials at Puducherry from February 19 to March 5.

• The aircraft was flown to Puducherry covering a distance of 140 nautical miles in 1.5 hours at a cruising speed of 155 km/hr.

• The objectives of these trials were to evaluate handling qualities, climb/cruise performance, balked landing, structural performance including positive and negative G, power plant and other systems performance at sea level.

• All the objectives of the sea-level trials were met and the aircraft was ferried back to Bengaluru on March 5, after completing 18 hours flying in Puducherry.

Features of HANSA-NG:

HANSA-NG is one of the most advanced flying trainers powered by Rotax Digital Control Engine with unique features like:

1) Just-In-Time Prepreg (JIPREG) Composite Lightweight Airframe.

2) High efficiency digital control engine.

3) Glass cockpit.

4) Bubble canopy with wide panoramic view.

5) Electrically operated flaps.

• It is designed to meet the Indian flying club needs and it is an ideal aircraft for Commercial Pilot Licensing (CPL) due to its low cost and low fuel consumption.

• NAL has already received more than 80 LoIs (Letter of Intents) from various flying clubs.  

• A total of 37 flights and 50 hours of flying have been completed and few more flights will be conducted before getting Type Certification by DGCA.

• Type Certification is likely to be completed by April and thereafter the manufacturing will be initiated with public/private industry that will enhance the aerospace ecosystem under ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’.

National Aerospace Laboratories 

• National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL) is a constituent of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).

• Established in 1959, it is the only government aerospace R&D laboratory in the country’s civilian sector. 

• Originally started as National Aeronautical Laboratory, it was renamed as National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL) in April 1993 to reflect its growing involvement in the Indian space programme, its multidisciplinary activities and global positioning.

• CSIR-NAL is a high-technology oriented institution focusing on advanced disciplines in aerospace. 

• It has several advanced test facilities, and many of them are recognised as national facilities.

• CSIR-NAL’s mandate is to develop aerospace technologies with strong science content, design and build small, medium sized civil aircraft, and support all national aerospace programmes.

• CSIR-NAL has provided significant value added inputs to all the Indian national aerospace programmes. Its contributions over the last five decades have enabled it to create a niche for itself in advanced aerospace research and technology development.

• It has also developed many critical technologies for the strategic sector and continues to support the mission-mode programmes of the country.

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