Flying high in Bangalore
Thanks to industrialist Walchand Hirachand’s initiatives in the 40s in Bangalore, India is one of the foremost in the maintenance and development of military aircrafts today.
“You see this fan, ma’am? When this turns, air is sent into a compression chamber. The compressed air is then mixed with fuel that is sent through the fuel injectors and the mixture is ignited. The resultant hot gas provides a thrust for the turbines to turn."
Walrus Overhaul (Pic: HAL museum)
I nodded my head eagerly as Ranjan, the guide at the HAL Aerospace museum, explained the mechanics of turbo fan engine which is used in the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) built by HAL. We were standing in front of the engine model in the HAL museum and vague memories of physics and turbine principles, learnt in college, now stirred back to life.
My curiosity to know more about the Indian aviation history started during the recently held aero show. The first aero show held in 1996 saw participation by just 100 companies and had only 45 aircrafts on display. This year, the participation was an all time high of 592 companies with 100 aircrafts on display.
More heartening was the display of the indigenously produced LCA and ALHs - a very commendable achievement since the Indian aviation history dates back only to December 1940.
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), originally called Hindustan Aircraft, was the brainchild of Walchand Hirachand, the noted Indian industrialist, who also founded Indian Shipping industry. His initiative was actively supported by the Dewan Mirza Ismail and he was given the necessary land and permission by the Mysore Kingdom. Thus Bangalore became the seat of aviation for our country.
Hindustan Aircraft was set up in December 1940 to serve the Royal Air Force and during World War II the factory was used for overhauling and maintenance of the Allied aircrafts. Post Independence, it was officially handed over to the Indian government and Hindustan Aircrafts became Hindustan Aeronautics Limited.
References
http://www.aeroindia.in/
http://www.hal-india.com
Wings of Fire – Dr Abdul Kalam
http://www.biographybase.com/biography/Tank_Kurt.html
http://www.defense-aerospace.com
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On 23-12-1940, "The Hindustan Aircraft Company" was duly registered under the Mysore Companies Act and the Companies first Directors were Mr. Walchand Hirachand ( chairman), Tulsidas Kilachand, Dharmsay Mulraj Khatau, A.N. Raghavachar & M.Venkatanaranappa ( Mysore State nominees). Its managing Agency was Walchand-Tulsidas-Khatau Ltd. Mr. Lalchand Hirachand was the Resident Editor of this agency.
Work on the factory began 24-12-1940. It received the first order by the Indian Government for 74 long range Vultee Attack Bombers, 48 curtis Hawk Fighters, 30 Harlow PC-5 Trainers to be completed by 1942 ! The First plane to be handed over was a Harlow Trainer on 29-8-1941.
But due to the ascendancy of Japan during the world war and the war threat looming large on Indian Shores, Indian government decided to buy the shares of Mysore Government and other share holders. Walchand group was purchased by paying 25 Lakhs by April 1942. But Maharaja did not wish to sell the Company but agreed to agreed to give free hand to the Indian Government to run the Company in the crucial war years. Thus walchand had a brief period of 1 year and a quarter in the history of the Company. It was only after India became a Republic, Mysore relinquished its shares to the Republic.
All this and more is on display at HAL Aerospace museum. Its a must visit for aviation enthusiasts. Go, have a look.
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Walchand's foray in to Aircraft Industry was kindled by a chance meeting with Mr.Pawley. President of Inter-continent Corporation of New York who was traveling in the same plane from San-Francisco in 1939 and Mr. Pawley had already put up a Air raft factory in China in association with Cutis Wright.
But sadly for Walchand his own Scindia Company turned down his proposal. Though he wrote to Maharaja of Baroda, Gwalior, Bhavangar and Mysore for help, only Maharaja of Mysore responded positively. Mysore Kingdom subscribed to shares worth 25 lakhs, gave 700 acres of land free and supplied water and Power at concessional rates (Proceedings of the Government of His Highness the Maharaja of Mysore: order no. D 3663-372/10C, 216-40-16: February 11, 1941). H.H. Jaya Chamaraja Wadiyar - just 22 years of age was the Maharaja at that time.