HPT-32 Deepak

The HPT‑32 Deepak is a basic trainer aircraft developed and produced by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the Indian Armed Forces. Its development began in the early 1970s as a replacement for the ageing HAL‑Ajeet and de‑havilland DHC‑1 Chipmunk fleet. First flying in 1977, the Deepak entered service with the Indian Air Force and Army Aviation in 1979, and over the next two decades it became the principal piston‑engine trainer for more than 150 Indian pilot schools.

The aircraft is a low‑wing, all‑metal monoplane powered by a 150‑horse‑power Lycoming O‑320 engine, with fixed tricycle landing gear and a simple, robust airframe that tolerates austere operating conditions. Its side‑by‑side cockpit offers dual controls, basic flight instrumentation, and provisions for light weapon training, making it suitable for primary flight instruction, navigation, and aerobatics. The Deepak’s easy maintenance, low operating cost, and indigenous production have helped HAL build a self‑reliant training platform.

In aviation history, the HPT‑32 represents India’s first fully indigenously designed trainer, fostering domestic aeronautical expertise and providing a reliable stepping stone for thousands of pilots before they transition to jet trainers such as the HPT‑24 and Hawk.