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HJT-16 Kiran
Detailed design began in April 1961 when Dr Ghatage assembled a group of 15 designers headed by Mr Raj Mahindra, his senior designer for the project. A year later the team was strengthened to 35, mainly through recruiting graduates from the India Institute of Science and other technical colleges. With the programme well under way, most of the team were transferred to priority work on the HF-24 Marut supersonic fighter, so that during the first half of 1963 only a few designers were able to continue on the HJT-16. When the full effort was again switched to the trainer the design staff was increased to 60.By November 1963 major assembly on the prototype was started, and the final installation of systems and powerplant was completed just before the first flight. On the morning of September 4, as the HJT-16 was prepared for take-off, weather conditions at Bangalore airfield (altitude 3,000ft) were ISA + 20°C with no wind. Gp Capt S. Das,HAL chief test pilot, flew the aircraft for 25min and reached 250kt; he reported complete success, with handling characteristics and performance within design predictions. Gp Capt Das is well remembered in this country for his Folland Gnat displays at Farnborough shows, flown while he was attached to the Gnat Flight development team at Chilbolton.
The HJT-16 is the first jet to be designed by India's young and growing aircraft industry without the help of outside consultants; indeed, it is the first jet aircraft to be developed anywhere in the world without the assistance of Western or Eastern Bloc engineers.
1964 | 2577 | Flight Archive
Detailed design began in April 1961 when Dr Ghatage assembled a group of 15 designers headed by Mr Raj Mahindra, his senior designer for the project. A year later the team was strengthened to 35, mainly through recruiting graduates from the India Institute of Science and other technical colleges. With the programme well under way, most of the team were transferred to priority work on the HF-24 Marut supersonic fighter, so that during the first half of 1963 only a few designers were able to continue on the HJT-16. When the full effort was again switched to the trainer the design staff was increased to 60.By November 1963 major assembly on the prototype was started, and the final installation of systems and powerplant was completed just before the first flight. On the morning of September 4, as the HJT-16 was prepared for take-off, weather conditions at Bangalore airfield (altitude 3,000ft) were ISA + 20°C with no wind. Gp Capt S. Das,HAL chief test pilot, flew the aircraft for 25min and reached 250kt; he reported complete success, with handling characteristics and performance within design predictions. Gp Capt Das is well remembered in this country for his Folland Gnat displays at Farnborough shows, flown while he was attached to the Gnat Flight development team at Chilbolton.
The HJT-16 is the first jet to be designed by India's young and growing aircraft industry without the help of outside consultants; indeed, it is the first jet aircraft to be developed anywhere in the world without the assistance of Western or Eastern Bloc engineers.
1964 | 2577 | Flight Archive
