HINDUSTAN AERONAUTICS LIMITED

,
Glimpses of Traversed Path (1940-Till date)
1940
Hindustan Aircraft Factory promoted by Late
Walchand Hirachand for manufacture of
Ameri can Ai rcraf t under Li cence was
established. It was set up with the objective of
promoting aviation industry for assembly and
overhaul of aircraft, engines and accessories
under license. The foundation stone was laid by
the late Walchand Hirachand on 24th December
1940.
1941
In March the Indian Govt. became part owners.
The first aircraft assembled by the factory was
flown in August.
1942
In April the Factory was taken over by the
Government. The U.S Army Air Force faced with
col ossal ai rcraf t repai r and overhaul
requirements took over the Management of HAL
from Govt. for the duration of the World War - II.
1945
Overhaul of aircraft such as C-47 Cargo Planes,
B25 Light Bombers, B24 Heavy Bombers,
Catalinas, and Other Aircrafts ( totaling to 1171
numbers) in addition to Overhauling of Engines
(3800 nos.) were carried out in the factory since
1943 after it was taken over by US. With the
termination of the war, U.S. Air Force transferred
the Management of the Factory back to Govt. of
India in August.
1946
HAL receives the order from Air Force for repair
and overhaul of 100 Tiger Moth Aircraft.
1947
HAL was recognised as Authorised Douglas
Service Centre in India. Overhaul of Dakotas
also entrusted to HAL by IAF.
Orders were received for manufacture of Percival
Prentice Trainer Aircraft.
1948
HAL's own design of Trainer aircraft HT2, HT-10
started. First Indian built Percival Prentice
Trainer was test flown in April.
1950
HAL admitted as a Member of the Society of
British Aircraft Constructors effective 1st
January. Manufacture of Vampire under licence
from M/s DeHavilland Company, UK
1951
HAL was brought under Administrative Control of
Ministry of Defence. President of India, Dr.
Rajendra Prasad visits HAL on 11th April. First
Prototype of HT-2 was test flown on 13th August.
Foundr y & For ge Di vi si on was
established.
1952
Barrackpore Branch Factory opened for
overhaul and repair of Dakota aircraft.
1953
First Type certificate in India granted to the
indigenously designed and developed aircraft
HT-2 by Director General of Civil Aviation on 3rd
January. HAL was granted Service Station
Certificate for American Aircraft by Civil
Aeronautics, the first organisation in Asia to get
this recognition.
1955
Visit of a team of technicians from M/s. Bristol
Aero-Engines Ltd., U.K. to India to assess the
feasibility of establishing a factory for the
manufacture of Aero- engines. Manufacture of
engines was entrusted to HAL.
1956
Manufacture of Gnat aircraft under licence from
M/s. Folland Ltd., U.K. Establishment of Engine
Division at Bangalore
1960
Commencement of Aerodrome Operations in
January. Inauguration of Aircraft Manufacturing
Depot (A.M.D) at Air force Station, Kanpur in
January.
1961
First flight of Marut (HF-24) built at Bangalore in
June. First flight of HS-748 aircraft built at Kanpur
in November.
1962
Signing of Chetak licence agreement between
HAL and M/s. Sud Aviation(now Eurocopter) in
June. Signing of an agreement between India &
USSR for manufacture of MiG-21 FL aircraft,
including its engines and avionics in August.
1963
First flight of Kanpur manufactured Glider in May
.
1964
Formation of Aeronautics India Ltd. with Divisions
at Nasik, Koraput and Hyderabad for Production of
MiG-21 Aircraft airframe, engines and avionics
respectively in March. Merger of A.M.D. Kanpur
with Aeronautics India Limited in June. Hindustan
Aeronautics Limited was formed in Oct 1964 by
amalgamation of Hindustan Aircraft Limited
(registered at Bangalore) with Aeronautics India
Limited (registered at New Delhi). The first
Orpheus 703 Engine manufactured from raw
materials was test accepted.
1965
Delivery of first fly away Chetak Helicopter in
December.
1966
First Flight of MiG-21 FL aircraft Flyaway series in
April. Signing of an agreement between India &
USSR for overhaul of MiG engines in August.
1969
The first Artouste-IIIB engine manufactured from
raw materials was test accepted. Delivery of first
raw material stage Chetak Helicopter in August.
1970
Formation of Helicopter Division, Bangalore.
Formation of Lucknow Division for Accessories &
Instruments. Signing of Cheetah (SA-315) licence
agreement between HAL and M/s. SNIAS in
September
1972
Foundation Stone for Accessories Factory at
Lucknow was laid by Prime Minister Smt. Indira
Gandhi in January.
1973
Completion of 1st MiG 21M aircraft of CTS series
in February. Delivery of first Fly Away Cheetah
Helicopter in March. I n a u g u r a t i o n o f
Accessories Factory at Lucknow by Prime Minister
Smt. Indira Gandhi in November.
1974
Signing of contract for SLV-3 Project in March.
Receipt of major export order for 20 sets of HS-748
Leading Edges & Tailcones in May. The Bangalore
Complex was reorganized in a phased manner
which commenced in mid 1970 and completed in
June 1974. Formal inauguration of the Helicopter
division by Sri.V.V. Giri, President of India.
1976
First Flight of HAL, Kanpur built Basant aircraft in
January. Delivery of 1st SLV-3 Assembly to
ISRO, Trivendrum in January. Signing of an
agreement with USSR for manufacturing of MiG-21
BIS aircraft & R-25-300 series engines and its
avionics in August. Initial flight of Ajeet
aircraft in September.
1977
Delivery of first raw material stage Cheetah
helicopter.
1979
Licence agreement with B.Ae for the manufacture
of Jaguar aircraft
1982
Signing of an agreement with USSR Govt. for
production of R29B engines in March. Initial Flight
of Jaguar Aircraft in March. Delivery of 1st
Jaguar Aircraft in September. Government of
India's approval of HAL's proposal and location of
factory at Korwa in September.
1983
Foundation stone laying of the factory at Korwa by
the Prime Minister in February. First Flight of Ardhra
Glider in August. Signing of Technical Know How
Transfer agreement for licence manufacture of
Dornier aircraft in November.
1984
Go ahead for licence manufacture of DO-228
aircraft at HAL Kanpur in January. First Flight of
Kanpur built HPT -32 aircraft in March. I n i t i a l
flight of Kiran Mk.II aircraft in March. Completion of
1st MiG-27M aircraft CTS series in September.
1986
Handing over of 1st Dornier aircraft by Shri
Sukhram, Minister of State for Defence Production
to Shri Jagdish Tytler, Minister of State for Civil
Aviation. Inauguration of Korwa Division by the
Prime Minister in April. The first Adour engine from
raw materials was completed and test accepted in
November.
1987
First Test Flight of Motor Glider (HMG.1) in March.
Receipt of 1st export order from M/S B.Ae.U.K. for
manufacture and supply of 12 Tail Plane
Assemblies in June.
1988
Handing over of 1st Jaguar Aircraft from Raw
Material to Chief of Air Staff in January. The first
Garrett engine from raw materials was produced
and test accepted in February. Inauguration of
Aerospace Division, Bangalore on 25th March.
First Adour Mk.804 engine was overhauled in
November.
1989
The 1st Liquid Propulsion Engine (fitted to Prithvi
Missile) was successfully test fired in December.
1990
Signing of Inter Governmental agreement for
overhaul of RD-33 engines in May. Export of DO-
228 Aircraft Coast Guard Version to Mauritius in
June
1991
Dedication of Aerospace Division to the nation by
Hon' bl e Pr i me Mi ni st er of I ndi a Sr i .
Chandrashekar on 19th April.
1992
Delivery of the 1st set of A-320 Forward
Passenger Doors to M/S Aeropatiale in June.
1993
Formation of BAe-HAL Software Joint Venture at
Bangalore. Contract for manufacture of 100 sets
of Fokker-50 Horizontal Stabilizer signed with
M/s.Fokker BV, Netherland in February.
1994
Indo-Russian Avation Limited (IRAL) Joint
Venture formed. Delivery of 100th HPT-32
Production aircraft to IAF in October. Contract for
manufacture of 100 sets of Overwing Exit Doors of
Boeing 757 aircraft signed with M/s. Boeing
Commercial Airplane Group, USA in December. 1
Chetak & 2 Cheetah Helicopters exported to
Namibia in December.
1995
Rollout of LCA (TD-1) in November.
1996
After successfully establishing the facilities for the
overhaul of Mirage-2000 aircraft, the first
overhauled aircraft was handed over to the Chief
of Air Staff in April, 1996.
1997
The design groups have been functionally
restructured and re-vitalised towards self-
reliance. Seven centres as below have been re-
constituted.
- Aircraft Research & Design Centre
- Rotary Wing Research & Design Centre.
- Engine and Test Bed Research and Design
Centre.
- Strategic Electronics Research and Design
Centre.
- Aerospace Systems and Equipment Research
and Design Centre.
- Transport Aircraft Research and Design Centre.
- Aircraft upgrade Research and Design Centre.
Successful Maiden issue of Non-Convertible
Bonds of 5 year duration in August.
1998
Formation of Industrial & Marine Gas Turbine
Division at Bangalore in April. Agreement signed
with M/S Boeing USA for supply of 300 sets of
Uplock Box assembly for Boeing 777 Aircraft.
Joint working agreement has been arrived with Air
India to establish and operate Flight Handling
facilities for International flights at Bangalore
Airport to exploit the existing infrastructure.
1999
Successfully completed fabrication of three
Lakshya (Pilot less target Aircraft) from raw
material stage within a period of six months from
go ahead and handed over to ADE.
2000
HAL Detachment Agra attached with TAD Kanpur.
Establishment of Airport Services Centre
at Bangalore in May. Signing of agreement
between India & USSR for licence manufacture of
Sukhoi-30 MKI aircraft at HAL, Nasik in October
2000. Gas Turbine Research and Development
Centre has been set up at Koraput division to
emerge as centre for design improvements of
Russian origin engines. Contract for manufacture
of 300 numbers of Boeing 767 Bulk Cargo Doors
signed with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Japan.
2001
Technology Demonstrator (TD-1) of Light Combat
Aircraft (LCA) made its maiden flight on 4th
January 2001. Delivery of the first batch of
Lancer Helicopters to the Indian Army in March.
Agreement to prepare a DPR for co-
development of Multi-role Transport Aircraft (MTA)
with Russian Partners was signed on 6th June
2001. Delivery of 1st ALH LSP to Army in
December.
2002
Delivered the first batch of indigenously designed
Advanced Light Helicopter (DHRUV) to our
customers (IAF & ARMY). This Helicopter was
dedicated to the service of the Nation by the
Hon'ble Raksha Mantri on 30th March 2002.
Series production activities for manufacture of first
batch of 8 LCA aircraft have been initiated on
signing of an MOU with ADA on 06th June, 2002.
HAL was delegated with the powers of MINI RATNA
(Category-I) w.e.f. June 2002. For mat i on of
HAL CONCOR MSIL Cargo Complex in Airport
Services Centre in August. Expansion of Nasik
Division as Aircraft Manufacturing Division and
Aircraft Overhaul Division. Establishment of
Sukhoi Engine Division at Koraput
2003
Contracts for co-development & co-production of
Shakti Engine and direct purchase of TM-333-2B2
engines inclusive of overhaul with M/s Turbomeca
(TM) was signed on 13th January (for use on ALH).
First Flight of indigenously designed and
developed Intermediate Jet Trainer (IJT), took
place on 7th March 2003. The inaugural flight took
place on 21st March in the presence of Hon'ble
Raksha Mantri. LCA aircraft has been christened
as TEJAS by Hon'ble Prime Minister on 04th May
2003. Centre of Excellence for Composites was
set up at ARDC, Bangalore and was inaugurated
on 14th August. First flight test on Jaguar Navwass
Upgraded aircraft with Indigenous Mission
Computer (MC) was carried out on 29th
September. Certification for ALH Civil Version
obtained from DGCA on 31st October. First flight
on Prototype Vehicle (PV-1) of LCA (Tejas) was
completed on 25th November.
2004
First flight on MiG -27M upgraded aircraft
successfully completed on 25th March. Second
Prototype of Intermediate Jet Trainer (IJT)
completed the first flight successfully on 26th
March.
2005
First Su-30MKI aircraft built under licence from
Russia was delivered to IAF on 21 Mar 05.
Facilities for manufacture of L-40 integrated strap-
on booster for GSLV was established and the first
unit was delivered in March. Design and
Development of Light Combat Helicopter was
launched in Jul 05. Initial operation clearance for
the Jaguar Navwass Upgrade carried out
indigenously was accorded on 15th December.
First flight of the LCA prototype vehicle (PV-2) was
carried out on 1st December.
2006
HAL Rolls- Royce celebrated 50 yrs of partnership,
IJT passes hot weather trials. HAL & Samtel JV for
avionics started, HAL & Cenco International signed
MoU to collaborate on engine test facility design &
manufacture, IAI selects HAL for supply of Aero
Structure.
2007
CAE and HAL established a joint venture company
(HATSOFF) for helicopter training centre in India.
Air Chief flies ALH powered by Shakti engine.
Colombian Defence Minister visits HAL.
2008
First HAL built Hawk Trainer Mk 132 aircraft was
handed over to IAF. Golden Jubilee of GNAT
celebrated.
2009
HAL handed over 5 ALHs to Ecuadorian Air Force.
One ALH was given to Mauritius. HAL and Boeing
signed an agreement for production of flaperons for
Boeing's 777.
2010
LCA gets Initial Operational Clearance (IOC).
HAL- Rolls Royce established a JV for
manufacturing of Compressor Shroud rings. LCH
took its first flight. First LCA (Navy) roll out. Rt.
Hon'ble Prime Minister of UK Mr David Cameron
visits HAL. JV Company between HAL, UAC &
Rosoboronexport to co-develop and co-produce
Multirole Transport Aircraft (MTA) established.
Preliminary design contract for FGFA signed
between HAL, Rosoboronexport & Sukhoi Design
Bureau, Russia.
2011
5 ALHs were given to Army Avn Corps. Handed
over one Cheetah to Namibia. Indian Coast Guard
receives 100th Dornier. ALH (Dhruv) certified to
level D by DGCA. Golden Jubilee of Marut's (HF-
24) first flight celebrated.