HAL Pushpak

HUL-26 Pushpak
HUL-26 Pushpak displayed at HAL Museum
Role	Two-seat cabin monoplane
Manufacturer	Hindustan Aeronautics Limited
First flight	1958
Primary users	Aero clubs Private pilot owners
Number built	160+
Developed from	Aeronca Chief

The Hindustan HUL-26 Pushpak ("Flower")[1] was a 1950s Indian two-seat cabin monoplane designed and built by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, based on the Aeronca Chief.[2]

Construction and operation

The Pushpak was a high-wing braced monoplane with a fixed tailwheel landing gear.[2] The fuselage was built from metal tubing, the wing aluminum ribs on a wooden spar, all covered in fabric.[2] The Pushpak first flew on 28 September 1958 and was powered by a 90 hp (67 kW) Continental flat-four engine.[2]

Around 160 aircraft were produced for Indian flying clubs for use as basic trainers.[2] Two examples were gifted to Malaysia and were later sold to private pilot owners in the United Kingdom. These examples remained in active operation in 2013.[3]

Operators

Airworthy Hindustan Pushpak privately owned in the United Kingdom

Former

 India

 United Kingdom

 Sri Lanka

Specifications (HUL-26)

Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1965–66[4]

General characteristics

• Crew: 2
• Length: 6.40 m (21 ft 0 in)
• Wingspan: 10.97 m (36 ft 0 in)
• Height: 2.77 m (9 ft 1 in)
• Wing area: 16.2 m^2 (174 sq ft)
• Empty weight: 395 kg (871 lb)
• Max takeoff weight: 613 kg (1,351 lb)
• Fuel capacity: 56 L (12 imp gal; 15 US gal)
• Powerplant: 1 × Continental C90-8F air-cooled flat-four, 67 kW (90 hp)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 144 km/h (89 mph, 78 kn)
• Cruise speed: 112 km/h (70 mph, 60 kn)
• Range: 400 km (250 mi, 220 nmi)
• Endurance: 3 hr
• Service ceiling: 4,270 m (14,000 ft)
• Rate of climb: 2.5 m/s (500 ft/min)

See also

Related development

• Aeronca Chief

References

Notes

1. "Meaning of pushpak in English".
2. Orbis 1985, p. 2172
3. Partington 2013, p. 603
4. Taylor 1965, p. 80

Bibliography

• Taylor, John W. R. (1965). Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1965–66. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Co., Ltd.
• The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985). Orbis Publishing. p. 2172.
• Partington, David (2013). Civil Aircraft Registers of United Kingdom, Ireland & IOM 2013. Tonbridge, Kent: Air-Britain (Historians) Limited. ISBN 978-0-85130-453-3.