Basic trainer HTT-40 enters last leg of testing

BENGALURU: The HTT-40, the basic trainer aircraft developed by defence PSU Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), on Friday began the ‘spin test’ phase of testing by successfully entering into two turn spin and subsequently recovering with the appropriate controls.

Spin testing is the most crucial and challenging aspect of flight testing of any aircraft development programme.

“Two test pilots undertook the first ever spin entry testing at about 1.30pm today. The plane was piloted by Group Captain (retd) KK Venugopal, from front cockpit and Group Captain S Chaki (retd), from rear. The stall testing was already completed and the project galloped its way to spin tests,” HAL said in a statement.

R Madhavan, CMD, HAL said that the successful start of the spin testing gives a boost to HAL and also restores credibility of HAL in successfully designing a spin worthy aircraft.

Prior to this, HAL’s Aircraft Research and Design Centre (ARDC) had conducted extensive wind tunnel testing and mathematical model analyses to arrive at the spin characteristics of the aircraft. The entire study is put to test during those the first few moments of spin testing.


HAL Engineering and R&D Director Arup Chatterjee, said that the test points mandated by the Indian Air Force (IAF) have been met and the spin completion is the last metric which needs to be accomplished before the aircraft enters service.

“As a matter of fact, HTT 40 exceeds the Preliminary Services Qualitative Requirements (PSQR) on most fronts and offers a technologically advanced product than its competitor,” he said.

The project started its detail design in August 2013 with internal funding and quickly made its way to the spin tests in matter of five years. The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) has approved procurement of 70 Basic Trainer Aircraft from HAL.

While congratulating the project team, Madhavan said: “The project has moved at a breakneck speed and stuck to committed milestones there by setting newer benchmarks in project execution and management. The production clearance for HTT-40 is expected to be accorded by the end of this year.”