Hon’ble Vice-President of India Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar visited CSIR-National Aerospace Laboratories (CSIR-NAL), Bengaluru, along with Dr (Mrs) Sudesh Dhankhar; Hon’ble Governor of Karnataka Shri Thaawarchand Gehlot and Hon’ble MP Rajyasabha, Shri Lehar Singh Siroya on 27 May 2024. 

Dr N Kalaiselvi, Secretary, DSIR & DG-CSIR, and Dr Abhay A Pashilkar, Director, CSIR-NAL, welcomed the delegation at the HAL Airport Viewing Gallery. The Flying Display of the Hansa-NG at the Viewing Gallery, HAL Airport, showcased the agility and capabilities of this indigenous aircraft. Spectators were treated to a stunning precision flying demonstration, highlighting the technological advancements in Indian aviation. The two-seat, all-composite HANSA 3 aircraft was successfully designed, certified, and produced at NAL. The subsequent success of HANSA Next Generation (NG) is a testament to NAL’s growing capability. Recently certified, HANSA NG boasts an all-glass cockpit, bubble canopy, and a fuel-efficient engine leading to excellent endurance. Hansa-NG will be an excellent aircraft for flight training by Indian Flying Clubs and other customer applications like bird reconnaissance at airfields, cadet training, coastal surveillance, and hobby flying.

The Vice-President took a keen interest in Hansa-NG’s commercialisation plans and promised full support from his office to achieve them.

After witnessing the spectacular flight of Hansa-NG, the delegation had the opportunity to explore the state-of-the-art 1.2m Trisonic Wind Tunnel at NAL’s Belur Campus. This facility plays a crucial role in aerodynamic research, offering insights into aircraft behaviour at high speeds. This facility is an engineering marvel for its time, capable of providing vital, strategic, and secure experimental aerodynamic data. Over the years, CSIR-NAL scientists have developed novel and advanced wind tunnel testing techniques that contribute immensely to every Indian aerospace programme led by CSIR, DRDO, HAL, and ISRO. Every Indian aerospace vehicle, whether the MiG, Su-30 or Tejas aircraft or the Gaganyaan, Chandrayaan and Mangalyaan space vehicle, has graduated from the NAL wind tunnel. The Hon’ble Vice-President initiated and witnessed a blowdown (test) on a test model at Mach number 2.0. He appreciated the efforts and congratulated the team for meeting the complex test requirements.

The showcase of NAL Technologies at GJAH, NAL, Belur Campus, provided a comprehensive overview of the institution’s contributions to aerospace innovation. The display highlighted NAL’s expertise and capabilities, from advanced materials to cutting-edge propulsion systems.

Carbon fibre is a strategic material in aerospace applications and needs to be developed indigenously. NAL has successfully developed standard-grade carbon fibre from the laboratory to the pilot plant scale. This process is being transferred to industry. The foundation stone for the new Heat Treatment Line for the Carbon Fibre Facility was inaugurated virtually by the Hon’ble Vice President of India. This will facilitate the production of higher-grade carbon fibres to meet the future needs of the aerospace sector. This significant milestone underscores NAL’s commitment to advancing research and development in aerospace engineering.

In his address, Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar, Hon’ble Vice President, commended the contributions of CSIR-NAL to India’s aerospace sector and highlighted the government’s support for scientific research and development initiatives.
He mentioned, “In the past two years, India’s space accomplishments have become globally recognised, both in the field of defence and in the shape of things like Chandrayaan-3. I now realise it is not the handiwork of one institution, but the convergence of several that has contributed to this.”

The Aerospace Showcase at NAL’s Belur Campus served as a platform to celebrate achievements, foster collaboration, and inspire future generations of aerospace engineers and scientists. Through cutting-edge research, innovation, and collaboration, NAL continues to play a pivotal role in advancing India’s aerospace capabilities on the global stage.