Thaindian News

Mumbai, Sep 14 (IANS) Utility vehicles major Mahindra Group’s maiden aircraft C-NM5, built at its facility in Australia, has completed a series of successful test flights, the company announced here Wednesday.

The 45-minute first flight of the C-NM5, conducted Sep. 1, tested the basic handling of the 5-seater all-metal aircraft.

Subsequent flights evaluated the aircraft stability and control under different flying conditions and further tests are continuing to comply with international regulatory standards before putting it up for global sales.

“It gives us great pride to see our first indigenous effort, the C-NM5, developed along with the CSIR-National Aerospace Laboratories, complete its maiden flight. This project is part of Mahindra’s goal to provide transportation and connectivity solutions to communities everywhere,” said Anand Mahindra, vice chairman and managing director of the $12.5 billion Mahindra Group.

“It is our privilege to announce an important milestone in the C-NM5 programme with the first flight of the prototype in Australia which was undertaken by Mahindra. This is not only a pioneering public-private partnership for India, but also symbolizes the globalized nature of the technological knowledge pool from which we can all draw from and contribute to, leading to execution excellence” said Samir Brahmachari, director general of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research and Secretary of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, Ministry of Science and Technology.

The programme is India’s first public-private partnership in the development of aircraft, and this milestone event is the result of teamwork across three development teams - CSIR-NAL, Mahindra Aerospace and GippsAero, Mahindra Aerospace subsidiary in Australia.

Engineers from CSIR-NAL and Mahindra Aerospace spent close to three years designing the all-new aircraft using cutting-edge design and analysis tools. The prototype was built over a 10-month period by the rapid prototyping team at GippsAero in their facilities near Melbourne.

Flight testing is being done at GippsAero by a professionally-trained test pilot supported by GippsAero’s flight test team.

The C-NM5 is powered by a Lycoming IO-540 engine, and features non-retractable landing gear and a spacious cabin with large access doors. The cabin interior is reconfigurable to adapt the aircraft to different roles, while simplicity of systems and ease of maintenance are design drivers throughout the aircraft.