HAL Chooses TPE331 for New Indian Basic Trainer
June 19, 2015 By Chris Pocock and Neelam Mathews Hindustan Aeronautics ( HAL ) has chosen the Honeywell TPE331 -12B turboprop to power its proposed new basic trainer. The HTT -40 is the delayed indigenous candidate to replace the old HPT -32 piston-engine basic trainer in the Indian Air Force ( IAF ). After delays in development of the HTT -40, the IAF bought 75 Pilatus PC -7 Mk II turboprops as an interim measure. Those aircraft are now being delivered. “ Our TPE331 -12B is one of the most widely used and capable turboprop engines in service today,” said Anjit Ghosh, president of Honeywell Aerospace India. “With our engine at its core, HAL ’s new, locally developed HTT -40 will offer pilots rapid acceleration, low fuel consumption, improved reliability and the ability to train for a variety of missions.” However, the IAF is reportedly reluctant to i...