China's AS700 Manned Airship Completes Its Inaugural Inter-Provincial Ferry Flight
China's AS700 civil manned airship, developed independently, successfully completed its inaugural long-distance, cross-provincial flight on Wednesday, establishing new benchmarks for both endurance and range. Spanning almost 1,000 kilometers, this eco-friendly airship is on track to begin commercial operations, with potential uses in tourism, transportation, and emergency rescue.
TroibNews 
China's domestically developed AS700 civil manned airship successfully completed its first long-distance, cross-provincial flight on Wednesday, as reported by its developer, the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC).
The AS700 covered nearly 1,000 kilometers, setting a new record for flight endurance and range for a Chinese-built manned airship, according to AVIC.
Created by AVIC's Special Vehicle Research Institute, the AS700 is a single-capsule airship capable of transporting up to 10 individuals, including a pilot. It boasts a maximum take-off weight of 4,150 kilograms, a flight range of 700 kilometers, and the ability to remain airborne for up to 10 hours.
This aircraft emphasizes environmental friendliness and low carbon emissions while providing safety and cost-effectiveness. Its design allows for both short-distance journeys and the ability to execute vertical take-offs and landings.
The AS700's journey commenced on Tuesday morning from an airport in Jingmen, located in central China's Hubei Province. It traversed neighboring Hunan Province, making two stopovers at local airports before landing safely in Guilin, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, on Wednesday afternoon.
The flight lasted a total of 12 hours and 44 minutes, with altitudes ranging from 500 to 1,990 meters and speeds between 60 and 80 kilometers per hour. During this journey, the development team mainly focused on assessing the airship's performance along with its endurance and long-range capabilities. They also plan to conduct further tests, including evaluations of passenger comfort, to ensure the airship's readiness for commercial deployment.
With plans to deliver the AS700 this year, it is anticipated to begin commercial operations, potentially serving purposes in low-altitude tourism, transportation, mapping, and emergency rescue missions.
Ian Smith contributed to this report for TROIB News
The AS700 covered nearly 1,000 kilometers, setting a new record for flight endurance and range for a Chinese-built manned airship, according to AVIC.
Created by AVIC's Special Vehicle Research Institute, the AS700 is a single-capsule airship capable of transporting up to 10 individuals, including a pilot. It boasts a maximum take-off weight of 4,150 kilograms, a flight range of 700 kilometers, and the ability to remain airborne for up to 10 hours.
This aircraft emphasizes environmental friendliness and low carbon emissions while providing safety and cost-effectiveness. Its design allows for both short-distance journeys and the ability to execute vertical take-offs and landings.
The AS700's journey commenced on Tuesday morning from an airport in Jingmen, located in central China's Hubei Province. It traversed neighboring Hunan Province, making two stopovers at local airports before landing safely in Guilin, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, on Wednesday afternoon.
The flight lasted a total of 12 hours and 44 minutes, with altitudes ranging from 500 to 1,990 meters and speeds between 60 and 80 kilometers per hour. During this journey, the development team mainly focused on assessing the airship's performance along with its endurance and long-range capabilities. They also plan to conduct further tests, including evaluations of passenger comfort, to ensure the airship's readiness for commercial deployment.
With plans to deliver the AS700 this year, it is anticipated to begin commercial operations, potentially serving purposes in low-altitude tourism, transportation, mapping, and emergency rescue missions.
Ian Smith contributed to this report for TROIB News
