NEW DELHI(PTI): A 14 seater aircraft jointly designed by Indian and Russian scientists is likely (6 propel India into the exclusive club of countries selling planes in the international civil aviation market. Undera Rs 800 million program, Scientists at the National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL), Ban galore, and the Russian Myasifchey Design Bureau (MDB) have designed a twin engine, turboprop Light Trans port Aircraft (LTA), The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) which owns NAL expects the first proto type to be ready by the end of 1994. But CSIR is yet to find a local partner to share the development costs and later product ionize the aircraft. India and Russia are to equally share the development cost of the LTA. The CSIR has been looking for an organization in India to chip in at least Rs 200 million and help take the LTA program to the production stage. Pratt and Whitney of Canada, a Manufacture of sir craft engines, has offered India five engines free for the first LTA prototype, Dr S.K Joshi, director general of CSIR, said at a Press conference here June 30.
Article extracted from this publication >> July 9, 1993