HAL's HTT-40 set for official flight in front of Manohar Parrikar

Bengaluru, June 16: Two weeks after its maiden flight, the Hindustan Turbo Trainer (HTT-40), from the hangars of Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), will make an official sortie on Friday.
According to HAL officials, the HTT-40, a Basic Trainer Aircraft (BTA) will have its 'official flight' from Old Airport with Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar in attendance.

The project is currently funded by HAL using their internal resources of Rs 350 crore. HAL proposes to make three prototypes of HTT-40 in addition to building two static test specimens.

The Company hopes that the IAF would place an order of a minimum 70 BTAs for basic training at Air Force Academy in Dundigal. HAL also has plans to weaponise the plane, extending its role beyond training.

HAL says the programme aims to achieve its operational clearance by 2018. The Company says the work has started on the stall and spin tests campaign in order to meet the project timelines.

As reported by OneIndia earlier, the HTT-40 had a very rough take-off with the IAF making their unhappiness over HAL's new venture. HAL's poor delivery schedules coupled with its failure to deliver the much-hyped Intermediate Jet Trainers (IJT) had pushed the IAF on the back foot. In the meantime, the IAF procured the Pilatus for training their pilots.
HAL's fortunes changed with new government's aggressive Make in India stand and Parrikar's backing of the HTT-40 project.

"We are happy with the kind of support the HAL management is giving us. Majority of members are youngsters in this project and we have accepted the challenges being presented to us. We are also receiving an unprecedented from the certifying agencies so far in this programme. The harmony is good and that's what is driving the project faster," says an HAL official.

PLANE FACTS
* Detailed design launched in August 2013
* Detailed design phase completed in May 2015
* First prototype flew in 12 months after design phase completed
* IAF may procure 72 HTT-40s
* Can be expanded in a weaponised version
* Over 80 percent indigenous content
* 75 systems out of 90 sourced from local players and HAL Divisions

By OneIndia Defence Bureau