CSIR’s National Aerospace Laboratories said it has roped in Mesco Aerospace Ltd., New Delhi, to modify, produce and market an upgraded version of its small aircraft, to be called Hansa-NG. NG is for `new generation'.
The redesigned aircraft will have first tiral flight in the next 11-13 months. NAL expects to get it certified for commercial flights around March 2020. Once the certification is received, Mesco Aerospace will licence-produce, service and market the plane in the country and abroad. The tie-up is exclusive for a limited period, NAL said in a release on Friday.
According to an agreement signed by NAL Director Jitendra Jadhav and Mesco Aerospace COO Manoj Pandey in Bengaluru, the modifications may include an advanced Rotax 912 iSc Sport engine with better fuel consumption, a digital display system, lighter airframe and drag to improve performance, electrical flaps, improved interiors and doors, a steerable nose wheel, LED lights and baggage space.
The changes were suggested by members of flying clubs who flew the Hansa that was leased to Mesco last year. The plane would be competitively priced 80 lakh for the basic version and around 1 crore for a fully loaded one.
NAL said there was an immediate requirement of 70-80 two-seater planes in the country: to train cadets, private and commercial pilots, for coastal surveillance and hobby flying,
Between 2001 and 2010, NAL built 14 Hansa-3 planes in the production version. It transferred 11 planes to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, one to IIT-Kanpur and kept two with itself.
