3 pilots die as Saras prototype crashes

Three IAF pilots attached to the National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL) air operation wing were charred to death when the second prototype....

Three IAF pilots attached to the National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL) air operation wing were charred to death when the second prototype of the indigenous 14-seat multi-role Saras aircraft being developed by NAL crashed outside Bangalore in the course of a test-flight.

Wing Commander Praveen,Wing Commander Shah and Squadron Leader Illyaraja who had piloted the Saras during flight displays at Aero India 2009 in February this year were named as the personnel onboard the flight.

The crash is seen as a major setback for the Rs 200-crore,nearly two-decade-old NAL project to develop an indigenous transport and cargo aircraft.

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The second prototype with over 45 flights to its credit had taken off from the HAL airport. It crashed around 40 km outside Bangalore in the Ramnagara district around 3.45 pm on Friday.

There will be a setback. This should not have happened but we have to see what has to be done, an NAL official said while stating it was early to ascertain the cause.

The development of the twin turboprop aircraft aimed at a maturing aviation market has seen its share of controversies. The first prototype that flew on May 29,2004 was nearly 993 kg overweight for a proposed 4,125 kg. The aircraft flew nearly 125 flights. An engine change cut the weight in the second protoype that crashed on Friday. The aircraft had flown at the 2007 Aero India show at Bangalore as well.

Ahead of Aero India 2009 NAL officials had said a third prototype closer in weight to the 4,125 kg-mark would fly this year. At Aero India 2009,the second prototype distinguished by a blue belly put up a sedate performance in the hands of the NAL air operation team comprising Wg Cdr Praveen,Wg Cdr Shah,Wg Cdr Sunit Krishna,Wg Cdr G D Singh,Sq Ldr Jaswal and Sq Ldr Ilayaraja.