Civil Aviation Department RG-1 Rohini
| Industry | Aviation, Aircraft manufacturing |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1950 |
| Headquarters | India |
| Products | RG-1 Rohini sailplane |
The Civil Aviation Department RG-1 Rohini (translated as Tropic Bird) is a two-seat training sailplane developed in India during the 1960s. This wooden high-wing monoplane accommodates side-by-side seating, with production numbers reaching at least 107 units.
Development and design
The Indian Civil Aviation Department's Technical Centre, which oversees research and development, initiated sailplane design and manufacturing efforts starting in 1950. In the early 1960s, designer S Ramamritham created the RG-1 Rohini, a two-seat training sailplane. Its initial four prototypes took flight on 10 May 1961. The aircraft is a wooden monoplane characterized by a braced high wing and a low-positioned tailplane located forward of the vertical stabilizer. The cockpit is open and arranged with side-by-side seating for two occupants. The landing gear consists of a single unsprung wheel under the fuselage, complemented by skids at both the nose and tail sections.
Production included 17 units manufactured by Veegal Engines and Engineering in Calcutta, while Hindustan Aeronautics Limited completed an additional 86 RG-1 Rohinis by 1971.