1. Exclusive details on today's LCA Navy prototype landing on the deck of the aircraft carrier, INS Vikramaditya. The LCA N, piloted by Commodore Jaideep Maolankar, snagged the third wire on the deck of the ship. The target was the second wire.
2. The first take-offs happen tomorrow off the INS Vikramaditya's ski jump.
3. The twin seat Tejas N prototype makes its landing tomorrow flown by Captain Dahiya, the second test Tejas N test pilot.
4. There will be more than 20 tests of the Tejas N off the Vikramaditya. Extensive ten day intensive flying campaign underway.
5. There was 23 knots of wind at the time of approach today ... Touchdown was at a comfortable 128 knots relative to the speed of the carrier.
6. The aircraft tested today was in a clean configuration.
7. The landing has been described to me as being an anti-climax given the extensive preparations ahead of the sortie today.
8. A process of extensive documentation preceded the actual first landing today - key to officially validating a lot of the technologies being tested.
9. The preparation for the sortie was very thorough - enough fuel was carried to ensure a return to Goa in the event of the aircraft being unable to snag an arresting wire using its arrestor hook.
10. The aircraft tested today had max fuel on board and no dummy weapons.
11. The learning curve has proven to be massive - someone associated with the project told me ``How little we knew in September.''
12. Lots of tests can now be done based on the usage data generated through multiple sorties which are being flown over the next few days.
