BANGALORE, Aug 22: India successfully flight-tested on Sunday a prototype of its 14-seater civilian aircraft whose development had been delayed by US sanctions, officials said.

The inaugural flight of the aircraft, christened "Saras" (Crane), lasted 20 minutes, officials and witnesses said. The aircraft can attain a maximum speed of 500 kilometres per hour and cruise at an altitude of 7.5 kilometres.

The plane, powered by rear-mounted twin turboprop engines, has been designed to land and take-off on semi-prepared runways, said Kapil Sibal, India's junior minister for science and technology

It was designed and developed by the National Aeronautics Laboratory based in this southern city with help from India's Aeronautical Development Agency and the Defence Research and Development Organization.

Mr Sibal said the aircraft was expected to be ready for production by 2010. It can be used as air taxi, ambulance, for aerial survey, reconnaissance or carrying cargo. "During the next 10 years, the aviation industry will be worth Rs1,000 billion ($22bn)," Sibal told reporters after the test flight.

"India wants to be part of this industry. Instead of importing aircraft, the time has come when people will come and negotiate with us for our aircraft," he said. -AFP