Saras project to continue

New Delhi: Unfazed by the crash of the prototype 14-seater passenger aircraft, scientists will go ahead with the project to develop the country's first indigenous plane.
“The Saras project will continue, we will not shelve it,” said Mr S K Brahmachari, Director General, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).
The second prototype of Saras civilian plane had crashed on Friday near Bangalore killing three IAF test pilots. The aircraft built by National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL) was completely destroyed in the accident. NAL is one of the 37 research institute s governed by CSIR.
Mr Brahmachari has held discussions with officers of the Indian Air Force and civil aviation authorties after the accident. He said the prototype - I of the aircraft will be modified and converted to a prototype III by fitting the higher thrust Pratt and Whitney engines.
The Union Cabinet has already approved additional funds for the project as well as for developing a 70-seater passenger aircraft. Mr Brahmachari, who met scientists at NAL and relatives of the deceased pilots on Saturday, said that father of one of the p ilots told him that completion of the project would be a fitting tribute to his son.