Mahindra 5-Seater Aircraft Flight Test Is Successful

India’s utility vehicle maker Mahindra Group has successfully test flown its maiden aircraft C-NM5, etching a milestone in the first public-private partnership in the country’s aircraft development.
The aircraft has been developed in a public-private partnership by National Aerospace Laboratories and Mahindra Group’s Mahindra Aerospace, with GippsAero, Australia (a subsidiary of Mahindra Aerospace), says Anand Mahindra, vice chairman and managing director of the $12.5 billion Mahindra Group today.
“The 45-minute first flight on Sept. 1 tested basic handling of the aircraft. Subsequent flights have evaluated aircraft stability and control in different flight regimes,” Mahindra says.
The five-seat all-metal aircraft is powered by a Lycoming IO-540 engine, and features non-retractable landing gear and a spacious cabin with large access doors.
“This is the first flight on a journey which we hope will take us far into the utility aircraft space and help us fulfil a need in developing economies world-wide,” says Hemant Luthra, Chairman, Mahindra Aerospace.
Engineers from CSIR-NAL and Mahindra Aerospace spent close to three years designing this aircraft. The prototype was built over a 10-month period by GippsAero in their facilities near Melbourne, Australia.
“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, says Samir Brahmachari, Director General of CSIR and Secretary, Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India.
Flight testing is being performed at GippsAero by a professionally-trained test pilot supported by GippsAero’s flight test team. The aircraft has completed five tests in the last 10 days and is likely to get the Type Certification soon in keeping with the international regulatory standards.
“This will be followed by a global sales and marketing program,” Luthra says.
According to company officials each aircraft is likely to cost around $400,000.
In 2009, Mahindra Aerospace acquired Aerostaff Australia and GippsAero (formally Gippsland Aeronautics).
With an overall investment commitment in excess of $100 million, Mahindra Aerospace is expanding its portfolio in both aircraft and aerostructures, and has started work on developing a major aerostructures manufacturing facility in India.