Aiming to induct in, IAF Chief Bhadauria flies’ sortie in indigenously developed HTT-40 trainer aircraft

New Delhi, November 15: Fortifying the defence capabilities by enhancing its aircrafts, Indian Air Force (IAF) Chief, Air Chief Marshal Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria, on Thursday flew a sortie in the under development HTT-40 trainer aircraft. The IAF chief flew in the trainer aircraft for around 40 minutes and tested the HTT-40 on several parameters. Air Chief Marshal Bhadauria has now become the first IAF chief to fly in an under-development aircraft.

It is learnt that HTT-40 will replace HPT32 after its formal induction in the IAF. It is to be noted that HAL is still developing this trainer aircraft. IAF chief Bhadauria has always supported the indigenous trainer aircraft project and Bhadauria had assured full support to this project when he was the deputy chief of air staff.

In a tweet, the Indian Air Force posted, “ACM RKS Bhadauria, CAS flew HTT40, tested its flying capabilities for one hour. First serving Air Chief to fly in prototype as Chief of Air Force.”

The HTT-40 is an all-metal tandem seat aircraft powered by a 1,100 hp (820 kW) turboprop engine. In 2012, HAL had announced that it would build 106 HTT-40 trainer aircraft but the future of aircraft plunged in doubt after the IAF ordered 75 Pilatus PC-7 Mk IIs to work as trainer aircraft.

Apparently, in 2015, it was reported that 68 HTT-40 trainers had been selected by Ministry of Defence to function as trainer aircraft. The first prototype of HTT40 was rolled out by HAL on February 2, 2016. The HTT40 made its first public introduction flight on June 17, 2016 and on May 19, 2017, the second prototype completed its maiden flight. On September 6, 2019, HTT- 40 completed a five spin trial successfully and the trainer aircraft successfully completed a six spin trial on September 7, 2019.

The IAF would order a sizeable number of these planes from the HAL for its training fleet which is currently using the Swiss Pilatus planes. Notably, the Swiss aircraft firm has been banned by the Centre for its alleged involvement in corrupt practices and this is the reason why the future of this indigenous aircraft seems bright.