The emphasis on indigenisation of the Light combat Programme has almost put an end to the import mania we Indians were suffering from," Dr Kota Harinarayana, Programme Director, Aeronautical Development agency (ADA) said on Monday.Delivering the National Aerospace Laboratory Foundation Day Lecture on 'Technologies behind the LCA Programmme',Kota said Indians missed over two generations of fighter planes and added that LCA was only just
beginning. "Our programmme focused on technology". We brought in technology for maintainability and ensured that the Light Combat Aircraft(LCA) used less on board equipment so as to live up its name'light' and 'combat'," he said. He said the second prototype of LCA will fly by the end of September.
Armed with Power Point persentation,Harinarayana in his inimitable style spoke on various critical components that went into this project from the initial stages. He also said the
LCA would not have been reality without NAL's participation.
M.Subba Rao,Head of Advanced Composites Unit,NAL in his 'technology lecture'said it was a great experience to work with various organisations to meet the desired requirements for the LCA. "Quality was the watchword we kept close to our hearts. From the design and fabrication of various composite units to the development of co-cured fin for LCA, we stuck to the primary goal of reducing the number of materials used for this
project," he said.
Rao added that the NAL scientists fabfricated the composite moudls and later mastered them. Use of composites for NAL's Saras civil aircraft programmme was discussed. Dr R.A Mashelkar, Director-General, Council for scientific and Industrial Research(CSIR),said the LCA programme had taught the Indians how to lead,rather than to follow. Mashelkar,who had once termed NAL as the jewel in the crown of CSIR,said the next important task for NAL was the completion of
Saras programmme. "LCA proved what wounders we could do if we are networked as a unit. It's sucess is the result if Team India staying united,"Mashelkar said.
In an apparent reference to the implication of US sanctions, Mashelkar said: "let them impose sanctions,but let's not put sanctions on our mind. Ultimately mind is what is what matters." The C-CADD(F) hanger of NAL was named after late Prof Rustom B.Damania,on the association with her late husband and NAL.
Dr.Srinivas Bhogle and his team presented a documentry on Rustom Damania, capturing his best moments at NAL.
Dr Prahlad, Director,NAL in his remarks termed the year 2001 as the most significant in Indian aviation. "LCA, Hansa-3 and many more projects are heading in the right direction. LCA Control Law was completely designed and developed by a team led by NAL and the snag-free completion of first-block flight shows that all our hard work have paid off," Prahlad said. Awards
for promising scientists and non-technical staff were given away to mark the Foundation Day. NAL's annual report for the current year and 'Glimpses of NAL's Flora and Fauna' was released to mark the day. S.V Samuel and M.R Narasimha Swamy aslo spoke on the occasion.
