HTT-40 trainer aircraft all set for maiden flight

India’s basic trainer aircraft programme, crucial for training rookie pilots, is on the verge of a milestone as aircraft maker Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is preparing to conduct the maiden flight of the country’s first series production Hindustan Turbo Trainer-40 (HTT-40) plane and racing to meet a longstanding need of the air force, officials aware of the matter said on Sunday.

- Rahul Singh

The first flight of the mass production aircraft will take place in two weeks, the development coming after two HTT-40 prototypes were flight-tested for more than 900 hours over nine years before HAL reached series production of the platform that will serve asa stepping stone for pilots to develop critical flying skills, the officials said, asking not to be named.

HAL hopes to deliver the first HTT-40, powered by Honeywell’s TPE331-12B turboprop engine, to the Indian Air Force (IAF) in January 2026 and 11 more before the financial year ends under a ₹6,838-crore contract signed two years ago with the government for 70 locally made basic trainer aircraft.

“The first flight of the series production aircraft is planned for September-end. It will fly with a ‘Category B’ (used) engine that powered one of the prototypes as the supply of engines by Honeywell is a bit delayed. The firm, like many others, is wrestling with supply chain bottlenecks,” one of the officials said.