Updated By: LatestGKGS Desk
LTA Saras Aircraft features, specification details
Light Transport Aircraft ‘Saras’ Successfully Completed Its 2nd Test Flight- Details
The indigenously developed Light Transport Aircraft (LTA) Saras successfully completed its second test flight on 21st February 2018 from HAL International Airport, Bangalore.
The LTA Saras, flight was commanded by Wing Commander UP Singh, Group Captain RV Panicker and Group Captain KP Bhat of the Aircraft and System Testing Establishment (ASTE).
The LTA Saras was developed and designed by the CSIR- National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL).
The LTA Saras PT1N has been proposed to take 20 test flights, before confirming the production version. The production model design is believed to be completed by June-July 2018
The LTA Saras PT1N first flight was successfully conducted on 24th January 2018.
Minister for Science and Technology Dr. Harsh Vardhan proclaimed that the Indian Air Force (IAF) commits to induce15 aircraft at its first phase.
Dr. Harsh Vardhan further added CSIR-NAL has proposed to get the SARAS-Mk 2 version certified initially for military and subsequently for civil version.
Dr. Harsh Vardhan informed that Saras will be 20 to 25 percent cheaper than any imported aircraft in the same category and it will be a 19-seater aircraft instead of 14-seater.
Dr. Harsh Vardhan also informed "The unit cost of the aircraft, with more than 70 percent indigenous content, will be around Rs 40 to Rs 45 crore as against Rs 60 to Rs 70 crore for imported ones and has far more benefits than what the imported aircraft offers.
