HAL Basant

The Hindustan Aeronautics HA-31 Basant (en: Spring) is a 1970s Indian agricultural monoplane built by Hindustan Aeronautics.

HA-31 Basant
Role Agricultural/utility aircraft
Manufacturer Hindustan Aeronautics
First flight 1972 (Mark II)
Produced 1972-1980
Number built 39

Hindustan Aeronautics started to design an agricultural aircraft in 1968 designated the HAL-31 Mk 1 with a cockpit directly over the wing leading edge. It was re-designed as the HA-31 Mk II Basant and first flew on the 30 March 1972. The Basant is a conventional braced low-wing monoplane with a fixed tailwheel landing gear and powered by a 400 hp (298 kW) Avco Lycoming IO-720 piston engine. It had a raised cockpit to give the pilot a good all-round view during spraying operations. Production ended in 1980 after 39 aircraft had been built.

Specifications (Mk II)

Data from The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982–1985), 1985, Orbis Publishing, Page 2160

General characteristics

  • Crew: One
  • Length: 29 ft 6¼ in (9 m)
  • Wingspan: 39 ft 4½ in (12 m)
  • Height: 8 ft 4½ in (2.55 m)
  • Wing area: 251.23 ft2 (23.34 m2)
  • Empty weight: 2645 lb (1200 kg)
  • Gross weight: 5000 lb (2270 kg)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Avco Lycoming IO-720-C1B flat-eight piston engine, 400 hp (298 kW)

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 140 mph (225 [1] km/h)
  • Cruise speed: 115 mph (185 km/h)
  • Range: 400 miles (645[1] km)
  • Service ceiling: 12,500 ft (3,800[1] m)
  • Rate of climb: 750 ft/min (3.8[1] m/s)

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

References

Notes
  1. Taylor 1981, pp. 90–91

Bibliography
  • Taylor, J. W. R. (ed.). Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1980–81. London: Jane's, 1981. ISBN 0-531-03953-6.
  • The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982–1985), 1985, Orbis Publishing, Page 2160
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