The aeronautical industry in India took off in Bangalore in 1940 when a far-sighted visionary, Walchand Hirachand, joined forces with the then government of Mysore to establish Hindustan Aircraft. Planes like the Harlow Trainer, Glider, Hawk-P36 and Horlow-PC5 were manufactured by Hindustan Aircraft. The Indian government nationalised Hindustan Aircraft in 1964 and it became HAL, or Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, a defence public sector unit.

India’s first aerospace defence establishment, HAL has been extending the aviation frontier to newer heights with each new aircraft. HAL’s principal business lies in the design, development, manufacture, repair and overhaul of aircraft, helicopters, engines and related systems including avionics, instruments and accessories. Innovation, and employment in R&D units and aero-science organisations, have created a talent pool, unleashed cutting-edge technologies for commercial aeronautical and military purpose. All this...