The backer of China's fighter-pilot trainer - the "Mountain Eagle" - is looking to get the machine flying both in Chinese and foreign skies, a military aviation official said yesterday in the national capital.

The revelation came after the plane, known as Shanying in Chinese , made its maiden flight in the southwestern province of Guizhou at the weekend.

According to Wu Hailing from the China Aviation Industry Corp I (AVIC I), mass production of the plane will begin in 2005 to satisfy the needs of domestic and foreign markets.

Shanying's excellent maneuverability , advantageous price, plus its flexibility to cater to customer requirements will make it very competitive internationally, said Wu, director of the Military Aircraft Development Department of AVIC I.

"Shanying can be used to train pilots before they take to both second and third-generation fighters," he said. "Apart from training members of the Chinese air force, it can serve developing countries, including those who have imported Chinese-made fighters."

The plane was manufactured by the Guizhou Aviation Industry Group under AVIC I. It is powered by a turbo fan engine and is equipped with an advanced airborne electronic system, Wu said.

The official declined to disclose other aircraft specifications, but said it was displayed at an airshow in Zhuhai in Guangdong Province last year. It attracted keen interest from many visitors in China and abroad.

Zhou Wancheng, president of the Guizhou company, said the trainer was designed and developed based on nine years of market research.

Many countries are upgrading their fighter aircraft, and the ratio between fighter planes and trainers usually stands at 4:1 or 6:1, according to some established Chinese experts.

Zhou said the all Chinese developed and manufactured plane can easily be turned into a fighter aircraft.

Qian Zhaoquan, a pilot who tested the plane, said he was satisfied with Shanying. It allows pilots good vision and maneuvers in a simple, stable and accurate manner, the pilot said.

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