14-seat SARAS passenger aircraft to be revived: Vardhan

'SARAS', 14 seater passenger aircraft of the National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL), is being revived and the flight test will take place in the next one-and-half months, Union Minister Harsh Vardhan said on Thursday.

While the 19 seater will be developed in the days to come, plans are also on to give thrust to a 70 seater plane, he said, adding permission had been given for carrying out flight testing and evaluation of SARAS PT1N aircraft.

Flight testing would start shortly with the help of ASTE (Aircraft and Systems Testing Establishment) team and engine ground tests have been initiated, the Union Science and Technology Minister said.

The data would be collected from the tests post which manufacturing would be done in one-and-half years, he told reporters at the Aero India 2017 at Yelahanka airbase here on the third day of Asia's premier air show.

"We have taken up the SARAS programme quite aggressively. New prototype has been developed with all modifications done after having the feedback," Vardhan said.