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HAL HPT-32 Deepak

HPT-32
A HPT-32 in an IAF Air Base
Role	Primary trainer Type of aircraft
National origin	India
Manufacturer	Hindustan Aeronautics Limited
Designer	Aircraft Research & Development Center (HAL)
First flight	6 January 1977[1]
Introduction	1984[2]
Retired	2009[2]
Primary user	Indian Air Force Indian Naval Air Arm
Produced	1977-1993[citation needed]
Developed into	HAL HTT-40

The HAL HPT-32 Deepak ("lamp" in Sanskrit) is an Indian prop-driven primary trainer manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. It has two seats in side-by-side configuration.

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 of 8.5:1. The IAF and HAL are looking into new safety systems such as Ballistic Recovery Systems 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 On 16 May 2010 the IAF cleared the installation of a parachute recovery system.^[3] The HPT-32 aircraft has been replaced by the Pilatus PC-7 Mk II in the IAF, as its workhorse as a Basic Trainer Aircraft (BTA) in 2013.

In 17 Deepak crashes so far, 19 pilots have died.^[4] The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India has been reported as saying the aircraft is "technologically outdated and beset by flight safety hazards" when discussing the grounding of the fleet in 2009.^[5] HAL HTT-40 is going replace HAL HPT-32 Deepak as primary trainer.^[6]

HPT-32

Basic version.

HTT-34

Turboprop version, powered by 310 kW (420 shp) Allison 250-B17D engine. First flew on 17 June 1984.^[7]

 India

• Indian Air Force 144 for basic training^[2]
• Indian Navy^[1] 8 for basic training

Data from Jane's Aircraft Recognition Guide ^[8]

General characteristics

• Crew: 2: student, instructor
• Length: 25 ft 4 in (7.7 m)
• Wingspan: 31 ft 2 in (9.5 m)
• Height: 9 ft 7 in (2.9 m)
• Wing area: 15.0 m² (162 ft² ^[9])
• Empty weight: 2,280 lb (1,034 kg)
• Max takeoff weight: 2,915 lb (1,322 kg)
• Powerplant: 1× Lycoming AEO-540-D4B5 piston engine, 260 hp (194 kW)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 175 mph (281 km/h)
• Range: 755 nm (1,400 km)

Armament
Four hardpoints; 255 kg warload; machine gun pods; bombs; rockets

Related HAL development:

• HAL HTT-40
• HAL HUL-26 Pushpak
• HAL HT-2

Comparable or Related Basic Trainers:

• Pilatus P-3
• Beechcraft T-34 Mentor
• PAC CT/4 Airtrainer
• North American T-28 Trojan

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