296
FLIGHT, 27 August 1954
INDIA
Production of HT-2 Cirrus-Major-pawered
trainers at the Bangalore factory of H.A.L.
HINDUSTAN AIRCRAFT, LTD.
HRISTMAS EVE, 1940, saw the foundation of Hindustan AirC
craft, Ltd., and the laying of the foundation stone for its
factory at Bangalore, Mysore State. The founder of the company
was Seth Walchand Hirachand, and capital for its formation was
provided by the Government of Mysore. The intention, like that
in Canada and Australia, was to make a start towards independence
in regard to the country's aircraft requirements. H.A.L. remains
the only manufacturer of aircraft in India and has made very
creditable progress in its fourteen years.
Briefly, the course of the company's first ten years' activities
were as follows: after its foundation, the construction and organization was entrusted to Mr. W. D. Pawley. During the first year,
two of six directors were nominated by the Mysore Government;
the Indian Government became a one-third shareholder, the
capital being increased from 40 to 75 lakhs (£562,500); Air
Marshal Sir John Higgins became the resident director and the
first aircraft, known as the Harlow PC-5, was assembled under
American licence and flown in August 1941.
Almost exactly a year later, on July 31st, the first Curtiss P-36
Hawk had been assembled and was test flown, and a month later
the first Indian-built glider was tested. During this period, too,
an American order was placed for fuel tanks, and to meet other
contracts for maintenance of a variety of military aircraft a large
expansion of the premises took place.
In 1943 the management of the factory was taken over by the
U.S. Army and a three-shift system introduced. The numbers
employed reached 15,000, and die engine department, which was
then separated, achieved an output of 300 units in the month. It
was in this year that the Government of India created a Directorate General of Aircraft Maintenance and Repairs with Sir
James Pitkeathly as the head.
In August 1945 the U.S. Army handed back the management
of the factory to the Indian Government, and with die cessation
of war a very difficult period was experienced, in common widi
other aircraft companies the world over. Difficulties were overcome, and, following the visit of a U.K. technical mission in March
1946, it was decided that the company should be developed for
aircraft manufacture but diat in the meantime the building of
railway coaches should be undertaken as a subsidiary activity.
There was considerable internal reorganization in 1947; a board
of management was appointed, together widi the first chairman,
C. W. Casse; and the design department was strengthened. H.A.L.
also became the authorized Douglas service agent in India.
In 1948 design work was progressed on two trainer aircraft, the
HT-2 and the HT-10, and at the same time overhaul work on
American B-24s and plans for Prentice construction were in hand.
The first Indian-built Percival Prentice was test-flown in mid1949, and in 1950 a new chairman, H. M. Patel, secretary to the
Ministry of Defence in the Indian Government took over. During
this time the railway and road coach activities were flourishing and
a new order was received. Since that time the HT-2 has been
put into production, a licence to manufacture Vampire trainers
acquired, and that work put in hand. There was also an extension
of the overhaul work on Liberators, Dakotas and Doves.
H.A.L. is now controlled by a board of directors comprising
the recently appointed chairman M. K. Vellodi, secretary to the
Defence Ministry; J. R. D. Tata and E. V. Ganapathy Iyer. The
board of management has J. M. Shrinagesh as chairman. Dr.
V. M. Ghatage is chief designer.
In addition to the Bangalore factory with its production, overhaul, engine and coach divisions, there is a branch servicing organization at Barrackpore, near Calcutta.
The present payroll is about 8,000, and the factory space
amounts to H m sq ft. The Prentice trainer programme was successfully completed in 1953. HT-2s—the Indian designed and
built all-metal Cirrus-Major-powered basic trainers—are to be
supplied to Indian civil flying clubs as well as to the Air Force.
The manufacture of Vampires is in hand, and work is proceeding
on the prototype of an advanced fighter-trainer. This, the HT-10,
is a side-by-side design with Twin Wasp engine. Figures appear
in the table on p. 284. H.A.L. are members of the S.B.A.C. and
have been accorded C.A.A. approval.
EW Z E A L A
EW nations of similar size have taken a more active interest
F
in aviation than New Zealand. A recent enterprising example
was the London to Christchurch Air Race. That no aircraft are
actually designed or manufactured in the islands is due mainly to
the high cost of maintaining productive capacity and of toolingup, which in turn results in a high selling price for aircraft for
which the home demand would of necessity be small. Other
countries understand, and some have experience of, this situation.
As a result, aircraft have to be imported.
Today two companies described below are specially concerned
with aircraft assembly as well as with major repairs and overhauls. There are in addition others engaged in operating and
servicing, representation and the sales of materials and equipment. In particular, British Aircraft, Ltd., of Embassy Theatre
Building, Wellington, represent several British manufacturers.
The de Havilland Aircraft Co. of New Zealand
ALTHOUGH The de Havilland Aircraft Company of New
Zealand does not at present manufacture aircraft, their capacity
to do so was well demonstrated during' the war when 345 Tiger
Moths were turned out for the R.N.Z.A.F. Concurrently Oxfords
and other aircraft were overhauled. Since that time also Fox
Moths, Chipmunks and Devons have been assembled.
Today the work of the factory at Rongotai Aerodrome, Wellington, is centred upon giving good service to all users of D.H. pro-
ducts—aircraft, engines and airscrews. The available facilities
are also used for similar work on other types of aircraft.
At Palmerston North, D.H. operate an overhaul shop for Goblin gas turbines for the R.N.Z.A.F.
The Rongotai premises occupy 28,800 sq ft and 70 people are
employed. No major changes in the present organization for
sales or service are foreseen for the near future. The general
manager is J. A. Kerr; D. W. Gendall is secretary, and R. W.
Jamieson is assistant general manager.
James Aviation, Ltd.
THIS company is responsible for the assembly of Fletcher
FU-24 top-dressing aircraft, 100 of which have been ordered for
New Zealand use. Designed and manufactured by the Fletcher
Aircraft Corporation of Pasadena, California, this machine is
specifically intended for New Zealand flying conditions, and in
addition meets American crop-dusting requirements. The order
for the aircraft was placed by the Cable-Price Corporation, and
their assembly will take place at the James Aviation Rukulua
workshops.
In addition to this work, the firm specializes on the operating
side in agricultural and charter flying, and has an extensive aircraft repair organization. The managing director is Mr. O. GJames. Address: Hamilton and Rotorua, N.Z.