HAL HT-2

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HAL HT-2

After the procurement of the Short Sealand and the Fairey Firefly aircraft, a need was felt by the Indian Navy to start its own ab-initio pilot training, which till that point of time was being done by the Indian Air Force (IAF). Towards this goal, the Indian Navy procured three HT-2 primary trainers (IN 121-123) from HAL. These aircraft were ferried to the FRU (Fleet Requirements Unit) at Cochin on 07 October 1956 by Lieutenant Commander B D Law and Lieutenant R A J Anderson. The FRU was re-commissioned as Indian Naval Air Squadron (INAS) 550 on 17 June 1959. The squadron then had ten Sealands, ten Fireflies and three HT-2s on its strength. These aircraft served till 1964 when they were phased out. Since the HT-2 had a long career of another two decades in the IAF, it is assumed that the three aircraft were returned to IAF service.