China's AS700 Manned Airship Successfully Conducts Initial Low-Altitude Demo Flight
China's domestically produced AS700 civil manned airship successfully performed its initial demonstration flight on Thursday in Hubei Province, central China, indicating a new era for the country's low-altitude tourism.
TroibNews 
On Thursday, China celebrated the inaugural demonstration flight of its domestically produced AS700 civil manned airship, an event marking a fresh approach to low-altitude tourism within the country.
The AS700 launched from Zhanghe Airport in Jingmen City, Hubei Province, demonstrating its capabilities and potential for tourism-oriented flights as reported by the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC).
This initial presentation took passengers on a near two-hour journey featuring aerial views of local attractions such as parks and river islands, as seen through the airship’s expansive side windows. The airship reached speeds of 60 kilometers per hour and maintained an altitude of 500 meters.
The AVIC Special Vehicle Research Institute engineered the AS700, which is designed to carry up to 10 individuals, including the pilot, and boasts a maximum take-off weight of 4,150 kilograms. It features a maximum flight range of 700 kilometers and can endure up to 10 hours in the air. Its capability for vertical take-offs and landings in confined areas enhances its agility and flexibility compared to other airship models.
Having received the type certificate from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) in December, the first AS700 airship is set to be delivered by year-end. "The producer has secured letters of intent for the purchase of 20 units from several buyers," mentioned Du Wei, the project manager of the AS700 civil manned airship program.
The burgeoning low-altitude economy in China, estimated at over 500 billion yuan (approximately $70.1 billion) in 2023, is anticipated to expand to 2 trillion yuan by 2030, underscores the potential according to CAAC statistics.
Additionally, the AVIC Special Vehicle Research Institute is collaborating with local authorities to test and expand the utilization of airships in low-altitude applications and aims to establish the nation's inaugural low-altitude airship tourism route.
The AVIC also noted that the AS700 airship could find uses beyond tourism, including logistics and advanced surveying and mapping services.
(With contributions from Xinhua)
Sophie Wagner for TROIB News
The AS700 launched from Zhanghe Airport in Jingmen City, Hubei Province, demonstrating its capabilities and potential for tourism-oriented flights as reported by the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC).
This initial presentation took passengers on a near two-hour journey featuring aerial views of local attractions such as parks and river islands, as seen through the airship’s expansive side windows. The airship reached speeds of 60 kilometers per hour and maintained an altitude of 500 meters.
The AVIC Special Vehicle Research Institute engineered the AS700, which is designed to carry up to 10 individuals, including the pilot, and boasts a maximum take-off weight of 4,150 kilograms. It features a maximum flight range of 700 kilometers and can endure up to 10 hours in the air. Its capability for vertical take-offs and landings in confined areas enhances its agility and flexibility compared to other airship models.
Having received the type certificate from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) in December, the first AS700 airship is set to be delivered by year-end. "The producer has secured letters of intent for the purchase of 20 units from several buyers," mentioned Du Wei, the project manager of the AS700 civil manned airship program.
The burgeoning low-altitude economy in China, estimated at over 500 billion yuan (approximately $70.1 billion) in 2023, is anticipated to expand to 2 trillion yuan by 2030, underscores the potential according to CAAC statistics.
Additionally, the AVIC Special Vehicle Research Institute is collaborating with local authorities to test and expand the utilization of airships in low-altitude applications and aims to establish the nation's inaugural low-altitude airship tourism route.
The AVIC also noted that the AS700 airship could find uses beyond tourism, including logistics and advanced surveying and mapping services.
(With contributions from Xinhua)
Sophie Wagner for TROIB News
