India's HTT-40 trainer aircraft takes first flight

BENGALURU, India, June 17 (UPI) -- India's indigenously-developed Hindustan Turbo Trainer-40 basic trainer aircraft took its inaugural flight Friday.

The HTT-40, designed and developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, took off from the company's airport in Bengaluru and flew for about 10 to 15 minutes, HAL said in a statement.

Most of the aircraft's content is indigenous and nearly half its components were manufactured by private Indian aerospace companies.

The project will now turn to getting the aircraft certified in 2018, the company said.

It will be manufacturing three prototypes and two static test frames.

Officials praised the aircraft carrying out a low-speed pass, a series of turns, a high-speed pass and a short landing using reverse thrust, a unique feature of the aircraft's engine/propeller combination.

The aircraft's design began in 2013 and was completed in 2015.

HTT-40 was designed to meet not only Indian air force requirements it also can be expended to include weapons, the company said.