South Korea private plane conducts maiden flight

Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) has developed and flown a prototype of South Korea's first indigenous private aircraft.

The four-seat aircraft, the Naraon, successfully completed its maiden flight on 20 July, says KAI.

It expects the aircraft to enter service in 2013--14, but this "depends on market conditions".

The Naraon is powered by a single Teledyne Continental Motors TSIOF-550K turboprop with 315 horsepower (hp). The engine is equipped with full authority digital engine controls.

KAI said the target market for the Naraon is "personal transportation".

Source: Flight International