The HAL HPT-32 Deepak () is an Indian prop-driven

primary trainer A trainer is a class of aircraft designed specifically to facilitate flight training of pilots and aircrews. The use of a dedicated trainer aircraft with additional safety features—such as tandem flight controls, forgiving flight characteristic ...

manufactured by

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is an Indian public sector aerospace and defence company, headquartered in Bengaluru. Established on 23 December 1940, HAL is one of the oldest and largest aerospace and defence manufacturers in the world. H ...

and are used as a basic trainer aircraft by the

Indian Air Force The Indian Air Force (IAF) (ISO 15919, ISO: ) is the air force, air arm of the Indian Armed Forces. Its primary mission is to secure Indian airspace and to conduct aerial warfare during armed conflicts. It was officially established on 8 Octob ...

and the

Indian Navy The Indian Navy (IN) (ISO 15919, ISO: ) is the Navy, maritime and Amphibious warfare, amphibious branch of the Indian Armed Forces. The President of India is the Supreme Commander of the Indian Navy. The Chief of the Naval Staff (India), Chief ...

. It has two seats in

side-by-side configuration Tandem, or in tandem, is an arrangement in which two or more animals, machines, or people are lined up one behind another, all facing in the same direction. ''Tandem'' can also be used more generally to refer to any group of persons or objects w ...

. It's configuration is low-wing, monoplane, single-engine aircraft designed primarily for the training of pilots in basic aerobatics, navigation, and other flying skills. The HPT-32 is equipped with a turboprop engine, offering good fuel efficiency and handling characteristics for new pilots. However, it faced several challenges during its service. One of the major drawbacks was issues with the engine, leading to several accidents. As a result, the aircraft's service life was cut short, and it was gradually phased out in favor of more modern trainers, such as the

HAL HTT-40 The HAL HTT-40 (Hindustan Turbo Trainer-40) is an Indian Trainer (aircraft), training aircraft designed and built by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). It will replace the Indian Air Force's retired HPT-32 Deepak as a basic trainer. Design a ...

Operational history

The Deepak is used for primary training, observation, liaison and target towing. When it flies upside-down fuel flows from a collector tank in the fuselage and the inverted flight is limited to 1 min. Deepak has a theoretical

glide ratio In aerodynamics, the lift-to-drag ratio (or L/D ratio) is the lift generated by an aerodynamic body such as an aerofoil or aircraft, divided by the aerodynamic drag caused by moving through air. It describes the aerodynamic efficiency under give ...

of 8.5:1. The IAF and HAL are looking into new safety systems such as

Ballistic Recovery Systems Ballistic Recovery Systems, Inc., doing business as BRS Aerospace (and commonly referred to as simply BRS), is a manufacturer of aircraft ballistic parachutes. The company was formed in 1980 by Boris Popov of Saint Paul, Minnesota, after he su ...

to enable it to descend safely in the event of an engine failure. On 16 May 2010 the IAF cleared the installation of a parachute recovery system. The HPT-32 aircraft has been replaced by the Pilatus PC-7 Mk II in the IAF, as its workhorse as a Basic Trainer Aircraft (BTA) in 2013.

Accidents

In 17 Deepak crashes so far, 19 pilots have died. The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India has been reported as saying the aircraft is "technologically outdated and beset by flight safety hazards" when discussing the grounding of the fleet in 2009.

is going replace HAL HPT-32 Deepak as primary trainer.

Versions

;HPT-32 :Basic version, powered by

Textron Lycoming Lycoming Engines is a major American manufacturer of aircraft engines. With a factory in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, Lycoming produces a line of horizontally opposed, air-cooled, four, six and eight-cylinder engines. The company has built more ...

EIO-540-D4B5 flat six piston engine ;HTT-34 :Turboprop version, powered by

Allison 250 The Allison Model 250, now known as the Rolls-Royce M250, (US military designations T63 and T703) is a highly successful turboshaft engine family, originally developed by the Allison Engine Company in the early 1960s. The Model 250 has been pro ...

-B17D engine. First flew on 17 June 1984.

Operators

; *

144 for basic training *

8 for basic training

Specifications (HPT-32)

References

Notes

Bibliography

* * *Taylor, M.J.H. (ed,). ''Brassey's World Aircraft Systems Directory 1999/2000 Edition''. London: Brassey's, 1999. . {{HAL aircraft

Deepak Deepak ( / ) is a Hindi word meaning "lamp", from the Sanskrit source word for light. The name Deepak symbolizes a bright future. In the twentieth century, it became very popular as a first name for male Hindus. Names like ''Deepa'' (now commonl ...

1970s Indian military trainer aircraft Single-engined tractor aircraft Low-wing aircraft Aircraft first flown in 1977 Aircraft with fixed tricycle landing gear Single-engined piston aircraft