NAL Saras @ Aero India 2019 - Tribute To Late Professor Roddam Narasimha

‘Saras’ was conceptualised in the 1980s when notable Mathematician & Aerospace Scientist Satish Dhawan, on an official visit to National Aerospace Laboratories, asked the then Director and erstwhile student, Professor Roddam Narasimha (20 July 1933 - 14 December 2020) or 'RN' as he was fondly known as, if NAL, with collaboration from Hidustan Aeronutics Limited & Indian Air Force's Aircraft Systems Testing Establishment, could design and develop a Light Transport Aircraft that could be used by both, Civil & Military Operators. Research and analysis of the LTA project started in the 1990s, toward the end of Prof RN's tenure as director.

The first prototype or PT1 of Saras carried out its maiden flight in 2004 while the second, PT2, in 2007, and had even performed at the following Aero India shows. In 2009, Saras PT2 crashed while on a routine test sortie tragically killing all 3 occupants, that had later suspended the project, till the point where the government cancelled it in 2016. However, in 2017, the project had been granted a revival status with a new team rectifying the flaws on the erstwhile prototype, termed PT1N, and took to skies in early 2018.

Saras having suffered major setbacks during the flight testing, may not have reached its expectations but has led to a future platform designated as Saras MkII based on the current prototype, with modifications to the airframe & power plant with a tractor configuration unlike the present rear facing push-prop, and capacity from 14 to 19 seats.

Therefore, taking this opportunity to pay my respects to Late Professor Roddam Narasimha, for laying the foundation for an indigenous transport aircraft while simultaneously researching on important parameters of a modern fighter jet we all know as LCA or Tejas, with an article on Prof RN;s contributions, exclusively written for this blog, by Saras's First Pilot, who as a Squadron Leader in 2004 was tasked with the responsibilities of carrying out the maiden test flight, followed by a series of photographs from the archives of Aero India 2019.

PROF RODDAM NARASIMHA AND SARAS

by, Group Captain KK Venugopal (Retired) VM, Chief Test Pilot HAL Fixed Wing Bangalore.

In 1999, I was a young test pilot graduate of the IAF Test Pilots School at the Aircraft and Systems Testing Establishment( ASTE) Bangalore. My first assignment was to be part of the Saras LTA program of NAL. It was then during one of the Governing council meetings in 2002 that I first met Prof Roddam Narasimha. It was an amazing experience...for I had heard so much about him and here I was attending a meeting chaired by him, as the lead TP for the Saras LTA program. I was overwhelmed by his insightful reviews and positive, yet conservative outlook towards development task on the project. The reverence the Dir NAL Dr TS Prahlad and Saras Program Director Dr Yagnanarayan showed in their interactions with Dr Narasimha..was revealing of the eminence of the man.

I was fortunate to have had many more interactions with him on similar meetings and reviews. On 29 May 2004, the Saras LTA performed it's first flight and there he was at the tarmac to receive us all. It was an honour to have been associated with the program reviewed by a scientist of his eminence. Although it was sad that the Saras did not reach fruition as envisaged, it nevertheless did show what dedication, team work, optimism and professionalism could do. Prof Roddam Narasimha personified that spirit behind the Saras. I did have the previlege of meeting him once more after the first flight, that was during the inaugural flight in August. I kept reading about him now and then. But as my association with the Saras program drew down..the opportunities of interaction with Dr Narasimha or others on the program reduced. In his departure, the nation has lost a true pioneer, a great optimist and a very astute technology leader who shaped many important projects, institutions, leaders, scientists and even the many approaches to developing new technologies and skills. He was eminent, extremely focused, down to earth and humble in every interaction I had the privilege of having. I will always cherish his enthusiasm and passion for the Saras program and towards new technologies in general. May his soul rest in peace. Jai hind!

SARAS PT1N SOARING HIGH AT AERO INDIA 2019

Photographs by Arnav Pai

All Rights over Text & Photographs Reserved by the two authors, Arnav Pai & Gp Capt Venugopal. and under no circumstance must it be reproduced in any format.

*REMEMBERING* Test Pilots Wing Commander Praveen Kotekoppa and Wing Commander Dipesh Shah along with Flight Test Engineer Squadron Leader Ilayaraja, of IAF ASTE.