Phew! India’s New HTT-40 Trainer Lifts Off

From “don’t want or need it” to “yes, okay, we’ll take 68 of those“, it’s been a shaky flight for HAL’s HTT-40 basic propeller trainer platform. After some delays, the type took its first flight into Bengaluru’s skies on Tuesday morning with all systems go. HAL has been conspicuously silent about the debut flight, though Livefist can confirm it went without a hitch. Aiming to be fully capable and in service by 2018, the HTT-40 has had a bitter birthing, with the erstwhile IAF leadership practically calling for it to be destroyed before it could roll. HAL, which bankrolled the project alone — and not just without IAF money, but with IAF hostility — will now need to rapidly mature the aircraft and see it proven into academy service by 2018-19. The IAF, which currently operates 75 Pilatus PC-7 Mk.II has exercised options for 38 more. HAL will be banking big on an export market for light interdictors, and is known to already be in discussion with a handful of countries.

It isn’t fully clear why HAL has decided to go silent on the first flight. Livefist is in touch with the company for more details, so updates soon.

8 thoughts on “Phew! India’s New HTT-40 Trainer Lifts Off”

  1. It is good to see HAL bank rolling its owns R&D. The IAF had horrible experience with previous HPT-32 , the plane & support. Their reluctance to accept anything from HAL is understandable. Maybe a mention of that in one of blogs is necessary. It is good HTT will join IAF , IAF too has the fine Pilatus to train its rookie pilots with peace of mind till HTT matures.
    I do hope HAL has learnt from IJT &’LCA. Let us wish HTT-40 passes the tests with flying colours & help produce aces for IAF.

    1. Consider this. Just to keep the Tejas Mk I out, IAF was ready to extend life of MiG-21 till 2025 (in spite of the fact that there were so many crashes that dubbed it the Flying Coffins). Regarding the HPT-32 after just one crash, yes one crash the IAF decided to ground the entire fleet of HPT-32s and created a crises situation to hustle the then Raksha Mantri. What did they choose ??? No, not the South Korean KT-1 or American Beechcraft T-6C nor even the Pilatus 9C but the Pilatus 7C Yes same Pilatus 7C which was retired by Australia after 30 years of service. So much so for the quality of assets procured for IAF. If the HPT-32 was coming to the end of its life cycle then the HPT-40 should have been ready The fact that it was not indicates something very rotten. in planning and future vision. Curent Raksha Mantri must force the IAF to start ordering Indian developed and Indian manufactured assets ,for only then will Made in India come up to world standards American and European Manufacturers have been developing and improving assets over 80 to 90 years to reach this stage India can’t do it at first or second shot

      1. Pal u are getting your facts wrong! The HPT-32s had 17 CRASHES with both experience instructors and rookies dying

        The MiG 21 , most of the variants has/will be decommissioned – only One Variant will remain ie the MiG 21 Bison

        The BBT in service with with IAF is the PC7 Mk2 is the the latest variant of that type !

        The RAAF (Australia) NEVER inducted the PC7 – but the PC9, they like it so much that they went ahead and ordered the PC21

        Force the IAF to start ordering indian developed assets??? What u do think IAF hasn’t done this before??? – WHAT abt the Dhruvs, HJT-16 Kirans , HPT 32, The Maruts, Ajeet?? what are all this??

        Please DO SOME RESEARCH before commenting!!!!!!!

  2. First of the interface of the website is refreshing!!! kudos on that. It is surprising to see HAL be so silent on this. Is there a push on the IJT as well or has that been left out ?

  3. seriously, the article was so biased and amateurish that it did not make for fun reading. Are we to believe that this THING will get operationalized by 2018 so that it could be used for training of pilots. You have a great sense of humour for sure.

    keep doing your job

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