The Chinese mainland's AS700D electric manned airship completed a successful maiden flight on Friday, marking a significant milestone in green aviation within the low-altitude economy sector, announced the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC).
The AS700D's inaugural flight took place in Jingmen, Hubei Province, where it executed a vertical takeoff, swiftly ascended to an altitude of 50 meters, hovered briefly, and then made a smooth vertical landing. \"The flight of the electric airship feels lighter and smoother, just like driving new energy cars. It operates quietly, and both the piloting and riding experiences are more comfortable,\" said Lin Hong, the AS700D's maiden flight pilot.
Developed by AVIC's Special Vehicle Research Institute, the AS700D represents an all-electric upgrade from the AS700 manned airship, transitioning from aviation gasoline to an advanced lithium-battery electric drive system. Zhou Lei, chief designer of the AS700D, highlighted, \"The AS700D airship uses lithium-battery power, marking a major change that allows it to produce near-zero emissions and lower noise levels during flight.\"
Designed for missions in environmentally sensitive areas such as nature reserves, as well as large-scale events like concerts and marathons, the AS700D boasts a maximum flight altitude of 3,100 meters and a top speed of 80 kilometers per hour. It can carry up to 10 people, including the pilot, making it ideal for tasks like aerial photography, security monitoring, traffic command, and communication relay.
With its enhanced safety and stability, the AS700D is set to revolutionize low-altitude operations, including sightseeing, aerial advertising, urban security, and emergency rescue. Zhang Lixian, an AVIC official, emphasized the importance of green transformation in aviation, stating, \"We will advance the application of sci-tech achievements in green aviation by cultivating the AS700 series of manned airships and other key projects.\"
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
