Ahmedabad Times

NEW DELHI: Three Indian Military officers had a slim escape after their helicopter crashed within the mountainous Tangste close to Leh in Ladakh.A Main Basic, a Lieutenant Colonel and a Main survived the crash however sustained accidents when the Cheetah helicopter went down. “The helicopter crashed on Might 20. All three officers are protected. An inquiry has been ordered,” officers acquainted with the matter instructed TOI.A selfie by one of many officers of the Might 20 crash has now gone viral. All three walked out of the wreckage on their very own. The only-engine HAL Cheetah helicopter was operated by the Lt Colonel and the Main, whereas Main Basic Sachin Mehta, who instructions the three Infantry Division, was on board as a passenger.The crash happened throughout a flight over the high-altitude terrain of Ladakh. The precise explanation for the incident is at the moment underneath investigation.The Cheetah helicopters, inducted into service in 1976, have been an important asset for the Indian Military, particularly in high-altitude and ahead areas just like the Siachen Glacier. The Cheetah, which is essential for high-altitude logistics and reconnaissance missions for the armed forces, has been the topic of ongoing technical scrutiny attributable to its ageing fleet.Over the previous decade or so, greater than 15 Cheetah and Chetak helicopters have been concerned in crashes, resulting in the lack of lifetime of a number of pilots.Resulting from these issues of safety, the Military has deliberate to part out the ageing Cheetah and Chetak helicopters throughout the subsequent 1 to 2 years, to be step by step changed by new-generation Mild Utility Helicopters (LUHs) over a span of 8 to 10 years.Hindustan Aeronautics Restricted (HAL) is enjoying a pivotal position on this transition. The Military has already positioned orders for six limited-series-production LUHs, designed to succeed in a high velocity of 220 kmph, a service ceiling of 6.5 km, and an operational vary of 350 km.