SARAS

About: 

• Saras is the first Indian multi-purpose civilian aircraft. 
  
  
• Designed by: National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL). 
  
  
• Timeline: 
  • The project kicked off in 1991 and the first prototype was introduced in 2004. 
    
    
  • After years of development, the second SARAS prototype crashed outside Bengaluru in 2009 which led to the scrapping of its development program. 
    
    
  • In February 2017, the project was revived. 
    
    
  • The upgraded 14-seater SARAS PT1N completed its test flight earlier in January, 2018. 
    
    
  • The aircraft will soon be certified for both civil and military use. The plane is capable of executing both day and night missions. 
    
    
  
  
  
• Features of the revised version: 
  • It falls in the light transport aircraft category. 
    
    
  • It is capable of executing both day and night missions. 
    
    
  • It can be used for transporting civilians, freight, and in remote sensing exercises. 
    
    
  • It can take off and land from semi-prepared airfields and even on grass runways. 
    
    
  • The aircraft has been designed to travel at 425 km/h and it has a maximum continuous flight time of around five hours.