HPT-32 trainer aircraft flies into the sunset
October 19th, 2011 - 4:35 pm ICT by IANSNew Delhi, Oct 19 (IANS) It’s an aircraft that many senior Indian Air Force (IAF) officers cut their teeth on but a spate of crashes has finally forced the retirement of the single piston-engined HPT-32 trainers.
The IAF chief, Air Chief Marshal Norman Anil Kumar Browne, told India Strategic defence magazine (www.indiastrategic.in) that the IAF was undergoing a major transformation by inducting hi-tech systems and, while it was all for supporting indigenous industry, the HPT-32 has had a record of accidents which did not inspire confidence.
There has been a persistent problem with the fuel supply system that had not been sorted out, leading to 108 engine cuts and mishaps, claiming the lives of 23 pilots.
The HPT-32, manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), was grounded after a crash July 31, 2009 in which two senior pilots, both instructors, were killed.
The aircraft first flew in 1981, and was delivered to the IAF Training Command in 1984 for training in basic flying. Notably, many of the top IAF officers have trained on the HPT-32. But there seems to be a unanimous opinion that it is time for a change.
As a replacement, the IAF has decided to acquire the Swiss-made Pilatus-7 aircraft.
India Strategic quoted the air chief as saying that the formal agreement to buy 75 of these aircraft would be signed within a few weeks as the negotiations were in the final stages between the government and the manufacturer.
- IAF awaits cabinet nod to buy Pilatus trainer - Nov 18, 2011
- India clears $600-mn deal for air force trainers - May 10, 2012
- India signs $640-mn deal for 75 Pilatus trainers - May 24, 2012
- New simulators for training air force pilots - May 09, 2012
- HPT-32 trainer claimed lives of 23 pilots: IAF chief - Oct 03, 2011
- MiG crashes due to pilots' inexperience: IAF chief - Oct 08, 2011
- IAF shortlists Swiss aircraft for training rookie pilots - Jun 16, 2011
- Surya Kiran aerobatics team to take to skies again - Oct 08, 2011
- HAL prepares to manufacture Rafale combat jet in India - Feb 13, 2012
- India to acquire six more C-130J aircraft - Oct 02, 2011
- India to do $2 bn deal for Jaguar engines from single vendor - Jun 13, 2011
- IAF on cusp of acquiring cutting edge combat jets - Oct 25, 2011
- IAF Mirage-2000 crashes, both pilots safe - Feb 24, 2012
- IAF to float tenders for new basic trainer aircraft - Oct 01, 2009
- IAF will induct its C-17 airlifters from 2013 - Oct 10, 2011
Tags: accidents, air chief marshal, anil kumar, confidence, crash, crashes, fuel supply system, hindustan aeronautics limited, iaf, indian air force, indigenous industry, mishaps, negotiations, New Delhi, persistent problem, piston, retirement, spate, trainer aircraft, transformation