Hindustan Trainer HTT-40

[Kunal Biswas]

The cockpit and instrument, More will come in next many prototypes ..

 

[tejas warrior]

Beautiful picture of our own HTT40

 

[Prashant12]

Critical trials for desi trainer soon, HAL looks to start production in December

The HTT 40 rolls for take off at Aero India in February / Source: Ministry of Defence
Spin and recovery trials planned by October; crucial meeting with IAF after that

A basic trainer aircraft being developed indigenously is heading for critical trials in October, with plans for the production line to start before the end of this year. The desi HTT 40 trainer – which is critical for the air force’s pilot training program – is likely to undergo stall and spin tests shortly that will test its ability to recover from a potentially devastating situation.

The tests are critical to prove the stability and utility of the HTT 40 to train young pilots in handling aircraft before they move on to the more advanced aircraft. Officials overseeing the project told ThePrint that after the stall and spin tests, a crucial meeting will be held with the air force to obtain clearances and start a production line for the aircraft before the end of this year.

The HTT 40 has already undergone wind tunnel testing in France and is undergoing minor modifications to prepare it for the tests. Stall and spin tests are potentially lethal for test pilots and need to be programmed and planned minutely.

There is a sense of urgency to accelerate the HTT 40 program given the severe shortage the air force is facing in terms of basic trainers for its pilots. In 2012, the air force has rejected the HTT 40 program and selected the Swiss Pilatus PC 7 Mk1 trainer. However, the Swiss program has come under continued scrutiny and plans to add 38 more aircraft to the original order of 75 is unlikely to go ahead.

The homegrown basic trainer aircraft, which undertook its first flight last year is to be used for the first stage training for all flying cadets of the three services with the defence ministry committed to order at least 70 planes. The additional order of 38 aircraft (originally for Pilatus) is also likely to go for the HTT 40. Besides the training role, its developer HAL also plans to eventually roll out a weaponized version of the aircraft for non-conventional operations and export orders.

The Indian plan for coaching military pilots currently relies of three planes – a basic trainer, the intermediate jet trainer and an advanced training aircraft.

The Kiran Mk II intermediate trainer however is heading for retirement and the air force has changed its program into a three stage, two aircraft plan. Hawk advanced trainers are available in adequate numbers but there is a severe shortage of lower grade aircraft to train pilots.

https://theprint.in/2017/09/01/crit...ner-soon-hal-looks-start-production-december/

 

[SanjeevM]

Anything indigenous is good. Moreover, weaponised version could be used against naxals or other internal security operations. Further export also gives opportunity to earn foreign currency. Good going.

 

[Wisemarko]

Whatever people say to bash PC-7 but it is being used by countless AF and there has been zero major malfunction/ accident so far since their induction in IAF. IAF is extremely happy with its performance and availability rates. Let's not forget that HTT-32 was awfully inappropriate, obsolete and unsafe for pilot training. HAL couldn't figure out how to fix its fuel cutoff glitch which had caused several crashes. If anything, India had to request Pilatus to expedite PC-7 deliveries since HTT-32 were grounded after a crash killing two experienced pilots. I don't know since when we all started dancing to HAL's tunes - a pathetic monopoly DSPU with dismal record for quality and efficiency.
Only time can tell how safe and effective HHT-40 is for rookie pilots. After all, the aim of air-force is to defend the nation and not glorify DSPUs. Anyway...

The decision of GOI to not to extend the maintenance contract is debatable because most customers nowadays want 10 years of maintenance built in the initial contract itself. Extending warranties is always very expensive. India has made the same mistake of buying inadequate aftersales support in Rafale contract with Dassault by having only 5 years of maintenance and availability guarantees. Qatar on the other hand has opted for 10 years.

 

[Kunal Biswas]

Read the thread from first page, before getting to conclusion ..

The thread contain various other programs which were worth mentioning and IAF`s procurement policy specially accruing this BTA, More importantly this is not about PSU or Private but Indian ..

Keep out other topics which are not about HTT-40 ..

Whatever people say to bash PC-7 but it is being used by countless AF and there has been zero major malfunction/ accident so far since their induction in IAF. IAF is extremely happy with its performance and availability rates. Let's not forget that HTT-32 was awfully inappropriate, obsolete and unsafe for pilot training. HAL couldn't figure out how to fix its fuel cutoff glitch which had caused several crashes. If anything, India had to request Pilatus to expedite PC-7 deliveries since HTT-32 were grounded after a crash killing two experienced pilots. I don't know since when we all started dancing to HAL's tunes - a pathetic monopoly DSPU with dismal record for quality and efficiency.
Only time can tell how safe and effective HHT-40 is for rookie pilots. After all, the aim of air-force is to defend the nation and not glorify DSPUs. Anyway...

The decision of GOI to not to extend the maintenance contract is debatable because most customers nowadays want 10 years of maintenance built in the initial contract itself. Extending warranties is always very expensive. India has made the same mistake of buying inadequate aftersales support in Rafale contract with Dassault by having only 5 years of maintenance and availability guarantees. Qatar on the other hand has opted for 10 years.

 

[Armand2REP]

Whatever people say to bash PC-7 but it is being used by countless AF and there has been zero major malfunction/ accident so far since their induction in IAF. IAF is extremely happy with its performance and availability rates. Let's not forget that HTT-32 was awfully inappropriate, obsolete and unsafe for pilot training. HAL couldn't figure out how to fix its fuel cutoff glitch which had caused several crashes. If anything, India had to request Pilatus to expedite PC-7 deliveries since HTT-32 were grounded after a crash killing two experienced pilots. I don't know since when we all started dancing to HAL's tunes - a pathetic monopoly DSPU with dismal record for quality and efficiency.
Only time can tell how safe and effective HHT-40 is for rookie pilots. After all, the aim of air-force is to defend the nation and not glorify DSPUs. Anyway...

The decision of GOI to not to extend the maintenance contract is debatable because most customers nowadays want 10 years of maintenance built in the initial contract itself. Extending warranties is always very expensive. India has made the same mistake of buying inadequate aftersales support in Rafale contract with Dassault by having only 5 years of maintenance and availability guarantees. Qatar on the other hand has opted for 10 years.

The HTT-40 literally has twice the horsepower of the PC-7. Like the PC-21 it can be used as a replacement for intermediate jet trainers. PC-7 is for learning flight basics. Good news is HAL has a bunch of experience from the HPT-32 so those design flaws were taken care of in the initial phases. HTT-40 is fine for basic training flights but it will be interesting to see if her flight envelop can replace the need for intermediate jet trainers and save IAF millions in cost per flight hour. Basic flight training can be done from simulators, you need a turboprop with some horsepower to transition into jets, just chugging along with low powered props doesn't get the job done.

 

[Prashant12]

HTT-40 has been fitted and flown with a parachute gantry. Actual stall/spin testing to commence shortly.

 

[Vikramaditya]

HTT-40 has been fitted and flown with a parachute gantry. Actual stall/spin testing to commence shortly.

Why we need parachute for such low speed plane.

 

[F-14B]

Why we need parachute for such low speed plane.

the answer is in the quote .................................................

flown with a parachute gantry. Actual stall/spin testing to commence shortly.

 

[F-14B]

I would like to see an attack variant of this plane

 

[tejas warrior]

The truss installation has been a significantly complicated process for the designers and engineers as it had to be installed at the rear part of the aircraft extending it away from the rudder. https://t.co/tMReLM3iDq
#HTT40 #HAL #ARDC @mathrubhumieng https://t.co/tcGkq8KBWA

 

[Prashant12]

Propelled by HAL’s young blood, HTT-40 ready for critical stall & spin tests

Bengaluru: Two prototypes (PT-1 & PT-2) of the Basic Trainer Aircraft HTT-40 from the hangars of Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) are ready for the crucial stall and spin tests.

Since Aero India 2017, the young team from HAL’s Aircraft Research and Design Centre (ARDC) were reading both platforms for the stall and spin tests, which had given enough nightmares for the erstwhile HJT-36 (Sitara) project.

Mathrubhumi can now confirm that the design and manufacture of the anti-spin gantry truss has been completed and they have been already integrated on to both prototypes.

The aircraft has already started the flight-testing with the spin gantry and will start the stall and spin tests in shortly.

The truss installation has been a significantly complicated process for the designers and engineers as it had to be installed at the rear part of the aircraft extending it away from the rudder. This has been done ensuring that the rudder doesn’t get obstructed as the parachute is being deployed.

The ASPS (anti-spin parachute system) is a mandatory requirement for undertaking spin tests. The ASPS will be used to arrest the spin manoeuvre, if the aircraft fails to control the spin.

The spin gantry has been imported from American firm Airborne Systems. Insiders say that it has been delivered in a record time of three months as against a cycle time of three years which was taken for earlier projects.

Wind tunnel testing results encouraging

The truss structure is a complicated welded entity, which has tested the nerves of the ARDC team.

“We have done enough wind tunnel model testing and the results are encouraging. The stall and spin characteristics results have further boosted the morale of the team,” says an official.

Photo credit: HAL


The designers have been taking an extremely cautious approach keeping in mind the challenges it had thrown for the HJT-36 programme.

The ARDC team has done extensive simulation analyses before arriving at the current configuration.

Both prototypes have completed more than 120 flights, ticking off other test points ahead of the ultimate test.

The certifying agency CEMILAC, which is doubling up as a co-designer in the HTT-40 project, seems to be having a positive bearing on the project. The target set for achieving certification is December 2018.

Interestingly, HAL’s head T S Raju have been playing the mentor’s role for the team, and letting them know on many occasions that the HTT-40 is a project owned by the youngsters of the company.

Parrikar’s backing inspired ARDC team

Former Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar is a huge fan of the HTT-40 project, and has taken immense interest in patting the young team from time to time.

Parrikar had expressed confidence during the first official flight of PT-1 in June 2016 that the young team would deliver an aircraft as per the needs of the user.

Photo credit: HAL


With his successor Nirmala Seetharaman expected to visit HAL and DRDO labs in Bengaluru shortly, the ARDC team is leaving no stone unturned to catch the attention of the ‘minister on the move.’

The HTT-40 had stolen the limelight during Aero India 2017 with its 36-year-old Deputy Project Manager Prashant Singh Bhadoria and his team being the most-sought-after-souls at the show.

Started with HAL’s internal funding of Rs 500 crore, the HTT-40 project got the ahead for detailed design in August 2013. The detailed design was completed in 21 months (May 2015) and the BTA PT-I had its maiden flight (unofficial) in May 2016 and PT-2 in May 2017.

Another prototype (PT-3) with optimised design\ reduced weight and a weaponised variant (PT-4) are expected to fly out from the ARDC hangars in future.

http://english.mathrubhumi.com/news...itical-stall-spin-tests-mathrubhumi-1.2381400

 

[Butter Chicken]

Hopefully IAF/Govt. does not kill this project for "Strategic partnership" with Pilatus built by Indian company

 

[SanjeevM]

Is there any ETA for the PT-4 the weaponised version? I hope it can be used for ground support in anti naxals and anti terrorism operations.

 

[Kay]

Old news - but relevant..seems like this got burried.
https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/pil...-dealers-papers-raise-questions-1414951?amp=1

Pilatus Aircraft Deal Under Scanner As Arms Dealer's Papers Raise Questions

"Story Highlights
Arms dealer Sanjay Bhandari is being probed for alleged financial crimes
His company received 7,50,000 Swiss Francs from Pilatus in 2010: Sources
In 2012, government signed Rs 2,896 crore deal with Pilatus for 75 planes"
"Mr Bhandari is already being investigated for allegedly buying a benami or proxy-owned house for Robert Vadra in London. Now, investigators are now probing what kind of services his company, the Offset India Solution Private Limited, had provided to Swiss aircraft major Pilatus."

"Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar had earlier indicated his reservation about the deal."

"I will investigate, but will not stop flying the aircraft," Mr Parrikar had added.

Wonder why BJP has not done anything about this yet.

 

[Kay]

Pilatus PC7 Mk2 cannot be weaponised as per our deal. If IAF does not want HTT40, it can be given to Army Aviation wing for light attack, CAS and also to CRPF, BSF, etc,. for COIN operations.

 

[Sancho]

Wonder why BJP has not done anything about this yet.

Parrikar initially cleared the order of 38 more PC7s, but neither they were finally contracted, nor did we extended the maintenance contract for the first 75. The CBI investigations are on going.

 

[Armand2REP]

Is there some kind of financial trouble brewing at HAL? First the news was the backlog was at it's lowest levels, then the Drhuv was being sent to private production and now HAL doesn't have the money to pay Dassault for M2000 equipment maintenance and is demanding IAF pay for it when they are under contract to do it.

 

[Sancho]

Is there some kind of financial trouble brewing at HAL?

Not financially since the helicopter, trainer and LCA orders are firm. But they have to adjust to the political shift of the NDA government, that at least appears to favour private Indian industry, so HAL needs to be more competitive for the future. Outsourcing production part is one of the obvious goals, selling shares of the company (around 10%) to be less dependent on government funding, is another one and there are long term goals to expand in other areas of the aviation field as well.
However, they got several blows in the last few years too, the failure of IJT, MTA cancellation, Avro replacement shifted to private industry and the delays of FGFA, which now threatens the MKI production facilities, that initially was meant to directly switch to FGFA.

But at the end of the day, they will remain under government control and dependent on them.