On 10 May 1964, more than 54 years ago, the first fighter aircraft to be designed, developed and manufactured in India was delivered to the Indian Air Force by Hindustan Aircraft Limited (HAL) at Bangalore. The aircraft was the twin-engined fighter / bomber HF-24 (Marut or, Spirit of the Tempest), billed as Asia’s first supersonic fighter aircraft. It apparently took just 08 years from conception to realisation, a herculean feat by the design team led by Dr. Kurt Tank (of World War II, German Focke-Wulfe fame) and the production team of HAL . Glider trials began within 22 months of commencement of design with assembly of the first prototype ( serial number BR 462) being completed in 1960-61. The prototype underwent ground trials in March 1961 with first flight taking place on 24 June 1961 . A total of almost 150 Marut aircraft were produced...