The aerospace museum

It was one of the earliest public sector undertakings (PSU) set up in Bangalore and it is closely interlined to the aviation history of India. A few years ago, the PSU set up a centre to showcase India’s development in the aviation industry and also its growth as a pioneer of aviation in India.

Today, the Heritage Centre and Aerospace Museum of  Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in Bangalore is India’s first aerospace museum. The other museums are in Dabolim and Palam (The US and England have the largest number of such museums).

Located on Old Airport Road (Bangalore-Varthur Road), it is just 8 kilometres from M. G .Road and only 1.5 kilometres from the old HAL Airport. It was set up in 2001 and it showcases different types of aircraft, helicopters, flight stimulators and even a mock ATC. The centre is situated just after the HAL helicopter division.
The centre features 40 aircrafts and also gives us invaluable information on HAL and aviation. Some of the aircrafts on display are Marut (HF 24) which is one of the earliest aircraft to be manufactured, Mig-21, Canberra bomber and the Light combat aircraft (LCA), the NAL developed Hansa.

Some of the trainers on display are HT-2, the first trainer aircraft produced by HAL, the Pushpak which is still being used by flying clubs and the Kiran basic jet trainer for the IAF pilots and Basant, the aircrafts used for agricultural operations like spraying pesticides and chemicals on crops. The advance light helicopters, Chetak, and, Cheetah, also displayed as are the Devon transport aircraft. The HAL-designed ALH is also on display.

The development of HAL from the 1940s to the present day is attractively displayed. There are old and rare photographs pertaining to HAL and aviation in India. There are photographs of Lord Mountbatten and King Zahir Khan of Afganisthan visiting HAL.

An audio visual demonstration at the lounge shows you HAL's contribution to the country’s aerospace programmes.

There are a few exhibits on India’s successful space launches. There are scaled down models of polar satellite launch vehicle (PSLV) and the geosynchronous satellite launch vehicle (GSLV). There is also a full-sized model of the nosecone of the PSLV, the heat shield used to house the satellite and protect it on its journey through the Earth’s atmosphere. HAL was involved in manufacturing some of the key components for India’s spave vehicles.

Get onto the flight simulators and experience the art of flying first hand. Remember pilots are first trained in simulators and only after they master this, are they allowed to fly aircraft.

The Air Traffic Control (ATC) prototype or mockup at the centre once gave a breathtaking view of the landing and take off of various aircrafts at HAL’s Bangalore airport. The tower is located on the rooftop of the centre.