Bangalore: India's first indigenously built civilian aircraft, 'Saras', will take off on its maiden flight on Friday (May 28, 2004).

This was disclosed to reporters in Bangalore today (May 26, 2004) by Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal S Krishnaswamy.

The homegrown civilian aircraft has been undergoing final tests at the HAL (Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd) airport in Bangalore.

Saras, a twin turboprop 14-seater light transport aircraft, has been built indigenously by the Bangalore-based National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL).

The multipurpose aircraft, which is being tested by the Aircraft and System Test Establishment (ASTE) engineers and pilots of Indian Air Force (IAF), has undergone high-speed taxi trials, aviation sources said.

NAL, a Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) lab, rolled out the aircraft last year.

Saras is powered by two Pratt and Whitney engines and is designed for executive transport, as a light package carrier, remote sensing, coast guard and air ambulance.