NAL/TAAL Hansa-3
NAL/TAAL · India · first flew 1993 · light aircraft
India's first indigenous all-composite light aircraft, a two-seat low-wing trainer developed by NAL for ab-initio pilot training and club flying.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 7.24 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- All-composite low-wing two-seat trainer
- Single nose-mounted Rotax piston engine
- Bubble canopy over side-by-side seating
A small all-composite low-wing two-seater with a bubble canopy and a single nose propeller — similar to a Diamond or Grob trainer but with its own rounded, distinctly Indian club-aircraft styling.
Specifications
- The NAL/TAAL Hansa-3 has a length of 7.24 m (24 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 10.47 m (34 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 185 km/h (115 mph).
- Typical crew: 2 side-by-side.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
The National Aerospace Laboratories designed the Hansa as a low-cost composite trainer, with the type first flying in 1993 and the refined Rotax-powered Hansa-3 gaining certification in 2000. Production was undertaken with Taneja Aerospace for delivery to Indian flying clubs.
Variants
The line runs from early prototypes through the certificated Hansa-3 and the later modernised Hansa-3 NG (New Generation) with an updated engine and avionics.
Where you'll see it
The Hansa-3 serves Indian flying clubs and training institutions rather than the military, and has no UK service; it occupies the same club-trainer niche as composite types like the Diamond DA20 in Britain.
Related aircraft
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