SARAS MKII : India's indegenous Light Transport Aircraft to take its 1st flight in 2024-25

NAL SARAS development The development journey of the 19-seater light transport aircraft for India has been full of bumpy rides. NAL Saras, a 14-seater aircraft was perhaps the first attempt to build a commercial carrier which received approval in 1999 by the government. But soon the Russians who were supposed to co-develop the aircraft backed out due to financial challenges. The project almost came to a halt when it was hit by US-imposed sanctions in 1998, after India's nuclear tests in Pokhran. The Saras project was sanctioned on 24 September 1999 with initial schedule of its maiden flight by March 2001. The first Saras (PT1) completed its maiden flight at the HAL airport in Bangalore on 29 May 2004. The project was abandoned in 2016 due to a lack of funds. Revival & Improvement SARAS PT1 However, the current government has now revived the project after approving certain modifications to the cockpit and cabin formation. After the project was revived by the present government, NAL has incorporated design modifications and improvements on the SARAS PT 1 model, like 2x1200 shp engines and 104-inch diameter propeller assembles to cater to second segment climb gradient requirements, improved flight control system & avionics, rudder area, main wheel and brakes to cater to 7100 kg AUV, indigenously developed stall warning system, etc. The revised prototype of SARAS PT1 first flew on 24 January 2018 from HAL Airport for 40 minutes, reaching 8,500 ft (2,600 m) and speed of 269...