Saras, India's first home-grown, multi-role civilian aircraft, was successfully test-flown from the Bangalore airport on Saturday.

It took off at 8.20 am and landed safely after a 20-minute flight, sources at the National Aerospace Laboratory said.

The aircraft was flown by the Indian Air Force's Aircraft System and Testing Establishment chief test pilot Sq Leader KK Vengugopal.

The Bangalore-based NAL has designed and developed the 14-seater multi-role aircraft for use as executive jet and for courier, reconnaissance and commuter roles.

"It was a good flight", BR Pai, Director of the National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL).

The aircraft took off from the HAL airport and flew for about 30 minutes.

Saras was scheduled to make its maiden flight on Friday but it was put off by a day.

The prototype, powered by two American Pratt and Whitney engines, now weighs 5,118 kgs, about 900 kgs heavier than its desired empty weight of 4,125 kgs and is equipped with five seats including one for the pilot and an observer.

Two prototypes of Saras have to be flown for a total of 500 hours before it receives the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) certification, which is expected to be completed by 2007.The Rs 150 crore project on Saras, named after the Indian crane, began in 1991 but hit air pockets due to the denial of critical components following US sanctions imposed in the wake of the Pokhran nuclear tests in 1998.The NAL, a CSIR lab, revived the project in 2000 after the government assured additional capital infusion of Rs 200 crore into it.