HAL chooses Aero India to hit back at detractors

On the backfoot over the Rafale controversy and the recent Mirage 2000 crash, State-owned aviation major, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) will be in full force at the Aero India 2019 airshow beginning at the Yelahanka Air Force Station here on February 20. 

Taking to the skies for daily flight displays will be HAL's indigenous products, the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas, HTT-40 (Basic Trainer Aircraft), the first indigenously upgraded Hawk Mk132, named as Hawk-i, and the Civil Dornier-228.

Also flying will be the Advanced Light Helicopter (Rudra), Light Utility Helicopter (LUH), and the Light Combat Helicopter (LCH). Both the fixed and rotary wing aerobatic teams, Suryakiran (Hawk aircraft) and Sarang (ALH-Dhruv) will be up there. 

Populating the airshow's static display space will be HAL's Light Utility Helicopter (PT-1), Light Combat Helicopter (TD-2), Advanced Light Helicopter (Rudra) and the ALH MICU (Medical Intensive Care Unit).

HAL’s indoor pavilion will see the demonstration of tail boom folding and main rotor folding of the Naval Utility Helicopter (NUH), as a Technology Demonstrator. The NUH is the Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Dhruv with customization to meet the operational requirements of the Navy.

Supersonic simulator 

For the first time, HAL’s Supersonic Omni Role Trainer Aircraft (SPORT) simulator will be positioned at the pavilion. HAL has proposed to launch the indigenous development of SPORT (Aircraft) with 4++ generation or equivalent capabilities to bridge the gap in pilot training to command front line fighters. 

The SPORT aircraft will be utilized for fighter training after Advanced Jet Training stage and before induction of pilots into a frontline fighter squadron.

Another star attraction at the pavilion will be the aerospace corner, virtual and holographic room and Jaguar aircraft simulator.

Air Show theme

As part of the ‘Innovate’ theme, HAL will showcase Hindustan Turbo Fan Engine (HTFE-25) and Hindustan Turbo Shaft Engine (HTSE-1200) as technology demonstrators, Rotary UAV, models of avionics and mechanical system Line Replacement Units (LRUs) and various complex manufacturing capabilities.

The ‘Integrate’ area will see scaled models of Do-228 military aircraft, LCA fighter and Sukhoi-30MKI (with the major sub-assemblies). Also on display will be scaled models of LCA trainer aircraft, HTT-40 aircraft, Civil Dornier aircraft, the Rudra), ALH Civil version, and LUH (Light Utility Helicopter).