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HUL-26 Pushpak
HUL-26 Pushpak displayed at HAL Museum
Role	Two-seat cabin monoplaneType of aircraft
Manufacturer	Hindustan Aeronautics Limited
First flight	1958
Primary users	Aero clubs Private pilot owners
Number built	160+
Developed from	Aeronca Chief

The Hindustan HUL-26 Pushpak ("Flower") was a 1950s Indian two-seat cabin monoplane designed and built by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, based on the Aeronca Chief.

Construction and operation

The Pushpak was a high-wing braced monoplane with a fixed tailwheel landing gear. The fuselage was built from metal tubing, the wing aluminum ribs on a wooden spar, all covered in fabric. The Pushpak first flew on 28 September 1958 and was powered by a 90 hp (67 kW) Continental flat-four engine.

Around 160 aircraft were produced for Indian flying clubs for use as basic trainers. Two examples were gifted to Malaysia and were later sold to private pilot owners in the United Kingdom. These examples remained in active operation in 2013.

Operators

Former

 India

 United Kingdom

 Sri Lanka

Specifications (HUL-26)

Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1965–66

General characteristics

• Crew: 2
• Length: 6.40 m (21 ft 0 in)
• Wingspan: 10.97 m (36 ft 0 in)
• Height: 2.77 m (9 ft 1 in)
• Wing area: 16.2 m (174 sq ft)
• Empty weight: 395 kg (871 lb)
• Max takeoff weight: 613 kg (1,351 lb)
• Fuel capacity: 56 L (12 imp gal; 15 US gal)
• Powerplant: 1 × Continental C90-8F air-cooled flat-four, 67 kW (90 hp)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 144 km/h (89 mph, 78 kn)
• Cruise speed: 112 km/h (70 mph, 60 kn)
• Range: 400 km (250 mi, 220 nmi)
• Endurance: 3 hr
• Service ceiling: 4,270 m (14,000 ft)
• Rate of climb: 2.5 m/s (500 ft/min)

See also

Related development

• Aeronca Chief

References

Notes

1. "Meaning of pushpak in English".
2. ^ Orbis 1985, p. 2172
3. Partington 2013, p. 603
4. Taylor 1965, p. 80

Bibliography

• Taylor, John W. R. (1965). Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1965–66. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Co., Ltd.
• The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985). Orbis Publishing. p. 2172.
• Partington, David (2013). Civil Aircraft Registers of United Kingdom, Ireland & IOM 2013. Tonbridge, Kent: Air-Britain (Historians) Limited. ISBN 978-0-85130-453-3.

• HAL aircraft
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• High-wing aircraft
• Aircraft first flown in 1958
• Aircraft with fixed conventional landing gear
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