HAL HPT-32 (HTT-34) Deepak

History

The HAL HPT-32 "Deepak" was an Indian training aircraft developed during the Cold War for pilot instruction. It served the Indian Air Force and Indian Navy, with eight examples in operation. This aircraft was designed in the 1970s and had its maiden flight on January 6, 1977. It came in two main versions, the "HPT-32" and "HTT-34." The HPT-32 had a basic design with a twin-blade propeller, providing seating for two crew members side by side. The aircraft featured a simple rear wing, non-retractable tricycle landing gear, and a wide canopy for excellent visibility. Its specifications included a length of 25.3 feet, a wingspan of 31.1 feet, and a height of 9.6 feet. With a top speed of 175 mph and a range of 755 nautical miles using internal fuel, it could carry up to 562 pounds of weapons for training purposes, including machine gun rounds, rockets, and bombs.

The HPT-32 was succeeded by the HTT-34, which had an upgraded turboprop engine, an American Allison 250-B17D. This engine provided more power and better performance. The HTT-34's first flight with the new engine occurred on June 17, 1984. In addition to its primary role as a basic training aircraft, the versatile HPT-32 also performed liaison, observation, and target towing duties. However, in 2013, the HPT-32 line was replaced by the more modern Pilatus PC-7 (Mk. II) from Switzerland, which served similar roles.

Overall, the HAL HPT-32 "Deepak" played a significant role in pilot training for the Indian Air Force and Navy during the Cold War era, and its upgraded version, the HTT-34, offered improved performance with a more powerful engine.

Specification

Fundamentals

Year of Service: 1978

Origins: India

Status: Retirement

Crew: 2

Production: 200

Operator: India

Training (General): Develop the ability to become a dedicated student pilot instructor (usually under the supervision of an instructor).

Dimensions and Weight

Length: 25.3 feet (7.70m)

Width/span: 31.2 feet (9.50m)

Height: 9.5 feet (2.90m)

Cured weight: 2,282 lbs (1,035 kg)

MTOW: 2,921 lbs (1,325 kg)

Wgt Difference: +639 lbs (+290kg)

Performance

Installed: 1 x Lycoming AEO-540-D4B5 piston engine producing 260 hp and driving a two-bladed propeller unit in the nose.

Maximum speed: 174 km/h (280 km/h | 151 knots)

Area: 870 km (1,400 km | 2,593 nautical miles)

Weapons

Optional: Four hardpoints for carrying conventional bombs, missile casings, and cannon casings for training purposes.