Up, Up and Away

An Ultra-light aircraft named ‘Danfe’ built by a team Nepali students successfully completed its test flight in Pokhara, Kaski district on Saturday. The test flight led by Russian Pilot, Alexander Maximov, lasted for about a minute covering the distance of about 1.5km.

Minister for Science and Technology, Ganesh shah, with other high ranking officials within the crowd gathered to view the maiden flight cheered as soon as the aircraft was airborne.

The team led by Bikash Parajuli and Ganesh Ram Sinkemana spent about Rs1 million (US $ 12500) and used locally available materials to built the aircraft.

The aircraft is powered by an Austrian Engine with a total take-off weight of 400kg with a speed of 200km per hour, says Mr. Parajuli.

The research team comprising eight students –Bikas Parajuli, Ganesh Ram Sinkemana, Anil Maharjan, Baburam Kharel, Dipesh Poudel, Ramesh Ranabhat, Rabindra Shrestha and Prasant Malla of Pulchowk Engineering Campus, IoE, took nearly two years for research and documentation.

It came after a delay of nearly a year when Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), the regulatory body of the country, could not provide the young team with a permit to go ahead with the experiment due to the lack of policy on such cases.
The success of the test flight has opened a new paradigm for air travel in Nepal. Adventure as well as cheap air travel for Nepalese residing in hilly region without an airport is within a reach. According to Mr. Parajuli, they have a plan to build 4seater ‘Danfe’, too.