Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 20
By Fatih Karimov - Trend: Flight tests will be carried out on the Iranian-made eight-seat helicopter, named Saba 248, in February.
Manouchehr Manteghi, secretary of the Iranian headquarters for developing high-tech aviation technologies, said the helicopter would conduct trial flights in the next Iranian calendar year, starting on March 21, Iran 's ISNA news agency reported on Jan. 20.
A homemade 14-seat helicopter is also conducting preliminary tests, he said, adding that three two-seat helicopters have also been manufactured.
Three universities of Isfahan, Khajenasir, and Sharif, as well as 20 high-tech companies have collaborated in designing and manufacturing the helicopters, he noted.
In 2012 Iran presented two domestically made helicopters dubbed "Panha 1" and "Panha 2."
Panha 1 is a medium-class helicopter model, capable of carrying 14 people, and is suitable for both military and non-military use. Panha 2 model is smaller, a light-weight class model, capable of carrying eight passengers.