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SARAS has completed 100 flights flamboyantly! A report on “ participation of SARAS for the flypast and flying demonstration at Aero India-2007”
1. The first ever indigenously designed and developed light transport aircraft - SARAS by NAL, after having successfully demonstrated its flying abilities in Aero India 2005 held at Bangalore, asserted its presence in the international aviation scenario again by participating in the just concluded Aero India 2007. It was the only prototype aircraft that participated in both static display as well as flying demonstrations from 07 Feb 07 to 11 Feb 07 at the Aero India 2007. The SARAS aircraft could achieve this formidable feat with just about 65 hours of flight testing, thus proving the maturity of its design and robustness of the platform. 2. The idea to give a new look to SARAS for the Aero India 2007 was in everyone’s mind. 3. The demonstration of SARAS aircraft in Aero India 2007 began with rigorous preparations comprising of exhaustive planning of manoeuvres for the flying demonstration, accurate route navigation for the flypast, thorough flight briefings, critical post flight debriefs and a quick look post flight data analysis. These activities were spread over several practice sorties flown over Bangalore and Yelahanka airfields. Every sortie was a significant step towards the final goal of flawless and immaculate flying demonstration of SARAS by ASTE flight crew. 4. 5. The flying demonstration was equally demanding and required flying SARAS aircraft close to the limit of its restricted flight envelope. The challenge posed by the flying demonstration was that, for an impressive flying demonstration, the aircraft needed to be flown to its limits without exceeding values laid down by the airworthiness regulator, the DGCA. Besides, the SARAS aircraft was the only aircraft in the Aero India 2007 flying demonstration, which was flying close to its maximum allowed all up weight. The flying demonstration comprised wingovers and tight turns at bank angles of 60 deg and vertical acceleration of about +1.9 g besides a steep takeoff and very short approach and landing. In such manoeuvres, the safety margins were very thin and only an experienced and skilled test crew could undertake this demonstration. These manoeuvres demonstrated the crisp manoeuvrability and steady controllability aspects of the SARAS aircraft. The short approach and landing demonstrated the short field operability of the SARAS aircraft. 6. The impressive flying demonstration of SARAS aircraft during Aero India 2007, that won By Wg Cdr RS Makker |
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However, it was put forward explicitly by the SARAS Project team including the flight crew. Towards this, a colleague of my wife who is a graduate of Chitrakala Parishad, Ms Babitha Bhaskaran was requested to help us design ‘streaks’ of vibrant colours to make SARAS look majestic. She did oblige us with her creative skills and in about half a day crafted various designs / colour schemes to choose from. Finally, the current pattern of ‘streaks’ appealed to every one’s eyes instantly. In the “India Poised Year” of 2007, with the chosen design pattern depicting the bird in flight and the national tri colour scheme, like India, Saras is all set to be “Poised”. 
The flypast of SARAS on 07 Feb 07 required critical flying skills associated with route navigation and formation flying. There were 21 other aircraft flying at different altitudes and speeds under the positive control of Yelahanka air traffic control, staggered in time and space in the airspace. The precise speeds and heights with negligible tolerances assigned to each aircraft including SARAS were required to be maintained with respect to ground position and time. Though the SARAS aircraft is still in its infancy of flight testing, the confidence the flight test crew had in the platform helped achieve the arduous task of the maintaining the assigned flight parameters precisely, resulting in an immaculate flypast of SARAS. The flypast was witnessed by Defence Minister Mr AK Anthony and other VIPs of the country and about 40 Chiefs of Armed forces of other countries. All of them were unequivocal in showering their praise for the majestic and the graceful flypast of SARAS. 
accolades from all the quarters alike, was planned, directed and flown by Wg Cdr RS Makker, Chief of the SARAS Trial Team and his crew with critical inputs from the test director Wg Cdr P Ashoka VM & Bar. The ground crew, the inspection team and the telemetry team provided the requisite background support. During the Aero India 2007, the SARAS aircraft completed its 100th flight on 10 Feb 07. Dr AR Upadhya, Director NAL, Dr TS Prahlad, Consultant NAL, Wg Cdr P Ashoka, Flight Test Director, Air Cmde M Matheswaran, VM, Commandant, ASTE, Air Cmde P P Reddy, VM and Gp Capt B.R. Krishna, SC were present on the occasion. To celebrate the 100th flight, Wg Cdr Arun Malik, Wg Cdr MSR Mohan, Wg Cdr Anil Goyal and Sqn Ldr S Elayaraja, smuggled in a commemorative cake for a quiet celebration. And they told me that there would be a “Special Debrief” after the sortie. The hugs and handshakes 
continued for a long time after the flight. All test crewmembers were touched by the entire team’s warmth and visible sense of pride in the achievement of this special milestone. The “special debrief” in the form of ‘cake cutting’ was conducted in Flight Display Director’s office with Project Director doing the honours.
