India's HTT-40 Basic Trainer To Be Equipped With Harzell Propeller

Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd has planned to equip HTT-40 two-place turbine basic trainer aircraft with Hartzell Propeller's four-blade lightweight aluminum propeller. 

The new indigenous HTT-40 is designed and built by HAL under the country's Make In India initiative. The HTT-40 will be soon replacing the piston-powered HPT-32 Deepak trainer for the Indian Air Force.

A HTT-40 outfitted with Hartzell's four-blade lightweight aluminum prop will be exhibited at the HAL display at Aero India 2017, held Feb. 14-18 at Air Force Station, Yelahanka,  Bengaluru, the Hartzell Propeller announced in a statement Monday.

Hindustan Aeronautics is manufacturing three prototypes and two static test specimens with production activities to begin this year.

Certification of the HTT-40 (Hindustan Turboprop Trainer-40) is expected in 2018. Flight testing will include 350 flights.

The new HTT-40 is powered by the Honeywell TPE331-12B turboprop engine. Designed to meet pilot training requirements of the Indian Air Force, the new military aircraft also will have provisions for weaponization.

The initial order from the Indian Air Force is for 68 aircraft. Total requirements could eventually rise to 120 of the basic turbine trainers for the Indian Air Force.