HAL HJT-36 Sitara

The HAL HJT -36 Sitara (Hindi: सितारा, Sitara, "star" ) is a one-beam jet trainer of the Indian producer HAL. It is provided by the Indian Air Force for basic flying training as a replacement of previously used HJT -16 Kiran.

The development of the HJT -36 began in 1999. The first flight took place on 7 March 2003. So far, the 12 machines of the pre-series and 250 copies of the production version have been ordered.

Since India could procure no engine with the necessary power, the prototypes were equipped with jet engines Snecma Turbomeca Larzac. The series versions will be equipped with the more powerful NPO Saturn AL- 55I with a thrust of 16.9 kN and a thrust - weight ratio of 5.59.

Accidents

In February 2007, was lost at the start of the first prototype at the Air Force Base Yelahanka near Bangalore the canopy. The machine crashed - chief test pilot Baldev Singh remained intact.

Specifications

See also: List of types of aircraft