The “Xiangyun” AS700 manned airship, independently developed by the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), made its first cross-provincial flight on Wednesday, August 21, covering nearly 1,000 kilometers across Hubei, Hunan, and Guangxi provinces. This marks the longest flight duration and distance ever achieved in the field of domestically developed manned airships in China.
According to the People’s Daily, on Tuesday, August 20, at 6:01 a.m., the AS700 airship took off from Zhanghe Airport in Jingmen, Hubei Province. It passed through Taohuayuan Airport in Changde, Hunan, and Wugang Airport in Shaoyang, Hunan, where it made brief stops for inspection and maintenance. The next day, at 12:44 p.m., it successfully arrived at the designated landing site at Moon Hill, Yangshuo, Guilin, Guangxi.
The total flight duration was 12 hours and 44 minutes, with an altitude range of 500 to 1,990 meters and a cruising speed of 60 to 80 kilometers per hour.
The AS700 manned airship is a civilian airship independently developed in China, featuring green, low-carbon, safe, and economical characteristics. It is capable of short-distance flights and vertical takeoff and landing. The airship has a maximum takeoff weight of over 4 tons, a maximum range of 700 kilometers, and can carry up to 10 passengers.
This flight was the first cross-provincial transition flight for the AS700 airship, following its initial transition flight within Hubei Province from Jingmen to Jingzhou on March 30 of this year. In the future, the airship will conduct passenger experience trials to gather data on passenger safety and comfort, which will be used to improve the airship’s comfort and provide references for subsequent commercial operations.
According to the plan, the first airship will be delivered this year. Once in commercial operation, this airship will not only be used for low-altitude tourism but will also cover a variety of applications, including low-altitude transportation, aerial surveying, and emergency rescue.
