BENGALURU: The Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) Heritage Centre and Aerospace Museum, a first of its kind facility, was inaugurated in the city by Union Minister of State for Defence Rao Inderjit Singh.
The minister lauded HAL’s efforts in preserving the heritage of the country’s aviation history for future generations.
Initially established in 2001, this first of its kind aero-museum is spread over 10 acres and is situated on Old Airport Road. It houses rare photos from the 1940s and aircraft models explaining the heritage of aerospace and aviation industry in India.
The facility has motion simulators that give visitors a chance to experience an aircraft’s flight. The museum was recently upgraded while the waterfalls, fish ponds and the cafeteria were renovated.
HAL chairman and managing director T Suvarna Raju said that more aircraft models will be added to the museum shortly.
On the occasion, Singh digitally inaugurated HAL’s upgraded Heritage Centres and Aerospace Museums at Koraput (Odisha), Korwa (Uttar Pradesh) and Nasik (Maharashtra). He also launched a web portal www.halmuseum.in.
Tourist Hotspot
Tourism Minister R V Deshpande, who was present, announced that the HAL Museum will be counted among Karnataka’s tourism spots and will be a tourist landmark in Bengaluru.
Engine Completes Demonstration Phase
Aero engine development project by Bengaluru-headquartered defence PSU Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is all set to complete technology demonstration phase on Monday when Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar will witness its maiden run.
“It is a landmark event in aerospace industry,” HAL Chairman and Managing Director T Suvarna Raju told Express.
Hindustan Turbofan Engine (HTFE-25) is the indigenous 25 kN aero engine being developed by HAL.
The project with a timeline of six to eight years was started in 2013 and is fully funded by HAL’s internal resources.
In the next phase, manufacturing and testing of the engine will be carried out by HAL.
The engine development project is considered to be significant as the new engine can power single engine aircraft like basic, intermediate and advanced jet trainers, and also business jets.
On Monday, the Defence Minister will also inaugurate New HAL Management Academy at Marathahalli in the city.