On the morning of August 20th, at precisely 6 am, a whale-like manned airship lifted off from Zhanghe Airport in Jingmen, Hubei Province, embarking on a serene journey across the provinces of Hubei, Hunan, and Guangxi.
Flying at a speed ranging from 60 to 80 kilometers per hour, the airship gracefully traversed the skies, ultimately landing safely at its destination, the Moon Hill Takeoff and Landing Site in Yangshuo, Guilin, Guangxi, at 12:44 pm on August 21st.
This remarkable feat marks the maiden long-distance transfer flight of China's first fully domestically developed 10-seater manned airship, the "Xiangyun" AS700, which adheres strictly to airworthiness standards and boasts complete independent intellectual property rights.
The total flight duration spanned 12 hours and 44 minutes, with the airship soaring at altitudes between 500 meters to 1,990 meters, covering a distance of nearly 1,000 kilometers.
The versatility of manned airships such as the "Xiangyun" AS700 is underscored by its diverse range of potential applications. Beyond facilitating low-altitude tourism, it holds immense potential for revolutionizing sectors like "low-altitude + transportation logistics," "low-altitude + intelligent surveying and mapping," "low-altitude + emergency rescue," and "low-altitude + urban security."
Having secured its type certification in December last year, the "Xiangyun" AS700 has garnered significant interest from the market, with approximately 20 intent orders placed so far. The inaugural airship is scheduled for delivery by the end of this year, signaling a promising future for this innovative aviation technology in China.
The successful completion of this maiden long-distance flight not only showcases China's prowess in aviation technology but also paves the way for broader adoption of manned airships in various industries, fostering new opportunities for economic growth and societal benefits.
Planner | Cao Si
Coordinator | Zhang Zhe, Liu Zikui, Li Hengdan
Text | Fu Qianying from Nanfang Plus
Video | Zhang Ruiwei, Chen Mingji, Wingheng
Video Editor | Xie Miaofeng, Ou Xiaoming, Will
English Text | Clarice
Editor | NIna, James
