Incidents
In February 2007 at the Aero India show at the Yelahanka air base near Bangalore, PT-1, the first prototype aircraft suffered serious damage when its canopy flew open during takeoff causing the aircraft to veer to the right off the runway. This caused the aircraft to tilt, which damaged the starboard wing. When the pilot tried to regain control of the aircraft, and pulled back on to the runway, one of the tires burst. The program's chief test pilot and the pilot of the aircraft, Squadron Leader Baldev Singh, was unharmed in the incident. The aircraft was repaired and returned to service.
On 4 February 2009, PT-2 landed on its belly after a routine aerobatic sortie. The aircraft was co-piloted by Squadron Leader Baldev Singh and IAF test pilot, Wing Commander C. Subramaniam, who were unharmed. There was structural damage to the undercarriage and one of the wing tips. This may have been caused by conflicting commands from the co-pilots.
On 28 April 2011, a prototype Sitara crashed in Tamilnadu. Both crew ejected safely.
Read more about this topic: HAL HJT-36 Sitara
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“An element of exaggeration clings to the popular judgment: great vices are made greater, great virtues greater also; interesting incidents are made more interesting, softer legends more soft.”
—Walter Bagehot (1826–1877)