IAF to build its own trainer aircraft: Air Marshal Kanakaraj

ersakthivel

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HTT-32's stall problems are not yet solved. Last crash killed 2 experienced instructors. HTT-32's airframes have life upto 2025, if problem can be solved. Many parents of pilots killed petition to meet the Chief and demand to know why their sons have been killed, and he has to answer them.Even i, as a layman, would hesitate to support HTT-40 solution of HAL, unless the problems and issues are solved. After doing some quick searching, i find HAL officials silent on HTT-32 fleet grounded (When Su-30 and Dhruv were grounded, HAL had promised to sort issues, and fleets were re-inducted). Best "fix" HAL has come up with is a parachute, to land the plane after it has stalled ! The CAG have described the HTT-32 as outdated and having safety problems, which HAL have not contested.

PC-7 is proven, safe and reliable platform. Instructors and IAF Commanders can concentrate on getting rookies up and running as per schedules, and concentrate on core issues instead of fire fighting , and being blamed for pliots deaths, etc.

To move forward, and support indigestion, HAL should be given a mandate to vigorously solve the HTT-32's problems, make design changes, and document the issues. When this is done, they can build the next generation , based on the HTT-32.

HTT-32's problems are not simple fixes. The probable culprits are the Engine, Fuel Injection system and the Air frame itself. The OEM, Lycoming is not willing to support.

I support indegenisation, even scrap the MMRCA deal and induct LCA seems good idea. But HTT-40 is a dangerous proposition, and safe and reliable platform is better choice.
Of course there are no two opinions about the safety of the trainee pilots when it comes to Pliatus vs HTT-40 or HTT-32,

But if there are problems in HTT-32 it must have been in the fuel pump or engine, both of them are imported not designed and fabricated by HAL. So with some foreign consultation it could have been solved in the last decade itself.

Sure IAF or HAL or MOD could have asked the Russians or french from whom we are buying billions of dollars worth of hardware to look into it.

But nothing has been done. I don't think there can be any problem with airframes, Because trainers are supposed to have enough glide ratios to land safely even if the engine stalls, like it is specified for HTT-40 and Pliatus,

Surely IAF would have specified some glide ratios for the HTT-32 also. SO there can't be any problem with airframe unless the trainer breaks apart completely in mid air!!!

Also no one stopped IAF from giving consent o HAL's HTT_35 proposal for a decade. HAL must have developed the mock up for the HTT-35 at the behest of MOD or IAF. But it was cold shouldered by IAF for a decade begs an answer.

Also there is no reason for IAF chief to ask HTT_40 developmental effort to be wound up!!!!! Does the IAF chief expects Indian pilots to train on Pliatus for ever?

IAF chief should ask the MOD to give HAL enough resources or spare some money from it's own budget for the trainer, besides HAL participation in FGFA, Because continued import of trainers will only eat into it's budget in he long term. Has the IAF chief oblivious to this simple fact?

It is hard to digest that the country which completes huge technological challenges like Tejas, IRBMs and Arihant can not resolve the simple fuel pump problems of a trainer, Whose mistake is it? HALs or IAFs or the devil may care attitude of the MOD which supervises the HAL?

IAF could have even asked ADA to sort out the fuel pump problem of HTT-32, Sure it would not have been a huge mountain to climb.

Like the GOI's stupid decision in the 1960s and 70s not to advance a princely sum of 5Cr for BRISTOL to develop a higher thrust version engine for the MARUT which killed the whole aviation industry , this HTT-32 issue also ranks as one of the mysterious blunders leading to billion dollar foreign exchange bleeding and making Indian industry a laughing stock of the world.
 
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Dinesh_Kumar

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From wat i understand, Airframe and engine should be matched to each other..........ownership of airframe and its effects is one of the points b/w lycoming and HAL for fixing the stall problem......
 

Kshatriya87

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Indigenous Trainer Aircraft HTT-40 Makes Inaugural Flight
All India |Press Trust of India | Updated: June 17, 2016 15:58 IST

Indigenous Trainer Aircraft HTT-40 Makes Inaugural Flight
All India |Press Trust of India | Updated: June 17, 2016 15:58 IS
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Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar has pushed both IAF and HAL to ensure development of the trainer.

Bengaluru:
Highlights
  1. Indigenous basic trainer aircraft HTT made inaugural flight in Bengaluru
  2. Defence Minister Mahonar Parrikar pushed HAL and IAF to develop the plane
  3. HTT will be used in first stage training of cadets of all three services
India's indigenous basic trainer aircraft, Hindustan Turbo Trainer-40 (HTT-40), today made its inaugural flight in Bengaluru in the presence of Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar.

The two-seater aircraft designed and developed by the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited was flown by Group Captain C Subramaniam and Group Captain Venugopal for about 10 to 15 minutes at the HAL Airport in Bengaluru.

Aimed at being used for the first stage training for all flying cadets of the three services, HTT-40 made its maiden flight on May 31.

Indian Air Force is expected to procure 70 HTT-40 aircraft.

Detailed design phase of HTT-40 was launched in August 2013 with HAL's internal funding and was completed in May 2015. From then, it has taken 12 months to fly the first prototype.

While the HTT-40 programme was almost junked during the UPA rule, Mr Parrikar pushed both IAF and HAL to ensure development of the trainer.

Complimenting the HTT-40 team for the accomplishment, he said, "when I came here in March 2015 the confidence they had infected me also. They had promised me within one year they will fly the aircraft. I'm happy that they have kept the assurance."

According to HAL, the team behind HTT-40 programme is "young" with an average age of 29 when it started. The programme aims to achieve its operational clearance by 2018, and towards this the company will be manufacturing three prototypes and two static-test specimens.

Also work has started on the stall and spin tests campaign in order to meet the project timelines.

The Defence Minister said, "I request them to bring it still earlier, by the beginning of 2018, so that they can go into serial production in 2018 itself."

He said while HAL would supply HTT-40 to defence forces, it would be permitted for certain percentage of export.

Stating that HAL has proven track record in the design and development of basic trainer, Chairman T Suvarna Raju said HTT-40 was an example of the company's commitment to indigenously developing trainer aircraft for the armed forces.

Responding to a query on the Air Force earlier being "hesitant" about the country-made aircraft, Mr Parrikar said, "the initial issue was the legacy of the past ... HHT-40 was never encouraged earlier. Our government, with the initiative of Make in India, provided the support."

The Defence Minister added that the IAF has been very positive about this development.

Earlier, the IAF had blocked funding for HTT-40 by telling the Defence Ministry that the aircraft would be too expensive, heavy and not able to meet its needs. It had instead backed a Swiss trainer, the Pilatus PC-7 Mark II.

Mr Parrikar also said, "though price is not finalised, I can only confirm this that this flight may be 20-25 per cent cheaper than the imports."

HAL chairman Raju said the programme has managed to glide through multiple headwinds and emerge successfully.

He said till date the aircraft had completed seven flights, and added, "The initial performance assessment has met expectations and further flight testing is under progress."

The aircraft on its third flight flew in heavy rains and successfully undertook wet runway landing.

Designed to meet the current demands of the Air Force, there was also a provision to include weapons for the trainer aircraft.

According to HAL officials, the indigenous content on HTT-40 is close to 80 per cent with about 75-plus systems out of the total 90 on the aircraft sourced from local players and sister divisions of HAL.

They said the role of private players and MSMEs had been significant in the production of parts and assembly jigs.

Almost 50 per cent of the 4,000-odd components on HTT-40 are manufactured by private players.

HTT-40 aircraft weighs about 2,800 kg and has Turbo Prop engine of 950 shp class.
 

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