Delayed Saras aims for 2011 approval

National Aerospace Laboratories is gearing up to fly the third Saras twin-turboprop prototype next year and hopes to clinch certification for India's first indigenous transport aircraft in 2011.
Development of the 14-seat twin-turboprop pusher has been marred by a series of delays since its launch in 1991, including the fatal crash in March of the second prototype.
According to the head of NAL's centre for Civil Aircraft Design and Development M S Chidananda, the weight of the third prototype - PT3 - is being reduced by around 500kg (1,100lb) "through great use of composites and by fine-tuning the structural design and optimising some of the on-board systems". This will bring the aircraft closer to the desired weight of 7,100kg.
The fully production conforming aircraft will be powered by two 1,200hp (895kW) Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-67A turboprops.
24/11/09 Radhakrishna Rao/Flight Global

To Read the News in full at Source, Click the Headline

Categories: Indian Aviation- In General Nov 2009, New Nov 2009