On Wednesday 19 Sep 2007 3:25 pm, ashok _ wrote: > Another bit of trivia on the same lines... : > > the first jet fighter aircraft built in india, the HF24-marut was designed > by, a german aircraft designer who was the designer for various WW2 > german aircraft.. most notably the Fw190.... > > <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HAL_HF-24_Marut>
Having been interested in military aircraft since 1962 - I have known this factoid for about that long. India's underpowered fighter that should really have been developed further. But there were powerful geopolitical factors at play on a fundamentally naive Indian polity (and population). Pakistan got a ready-made Air Force by 1965 ( as part of CENTO - to combat the Soviets) and India did a panic purchase of Soviet MiG 21s in a love affair that is only now showing signs of the "beginning of the end" Check http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/History/Aircraft/Polly-Marut.html Not only did Kurt Tank design the HF 24, he also helped design VTOL (Vertical take-Off and Landing) aircraft long before any other design team - but in the post war climate of not allowing Germany to take to fruition any projects with military significance - nothing came of them. shiv
