China’s Manned Airship AS700 Completes Its Longest Flight Yet

China’s domestically developed AS700 manned airship has successfully completed a long-distance, cross-provincial flight. The AS700 airship, developed by the Special Vehicle Research Institute, a subsidiary of the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), covered nearly 1,000 kilometers.

With a design focused on versatility, the AS700 is a single-capsule airship capable of carrying up to 10 people, including the pilot. Weighing a maximum of 4,150 kilograms, it boasts a flight range of 700 kilometers and can remain airborne for up to 10 hours, according to reports by CGTN.

The airship’s development began in August 2018, with the primary objective of meeting the increasing demand for sightseeing air tours. Its eco-friendly and low-carbon design, combined with the ability to perform both short-distance flights and vertical take-offs and landings, make it a safe and economical choice for various applications.

The AS700’s journey commenced on a Tuesday morning from an airport in Jingmen, Hubei Province. It traversed Hunan Province, making two stopovers at local airports, before successfully landing in Guilin, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, on Wednesday afternoon. Over 12 hours and 44 minutes, the airship flew at altitudes ranging from 500 to 1,990 meters and maintained speeds between 60 and 80 kilometers per hour. This extensive flight was aimed at testing the airship’s performance, endurance, and long-range capabilities.

The AS700 is expected to play a pivotal role in China’s expanding low-altitude economy. AVIC highlighted the airship’s potential for various applications, including aerial tours, emergency rescue operations, urban security, and aerial geophysical surveys.

The AS700 is slated for commercial delivery this year and is anticipated to begin operations soon, contributing to the growth of China’s low-altitude economic sector. The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) has projected that the low-altitude economy, which was estimated to surpass 500 billion yuan (70.1 billion U.S. dollars) in 2023, could grow to 2 trillion yuan by 2030.