China's civil manned airship AS700, which began development in August 2018, is expected to make its first flight later this year, the Science and Technology Daily reported on March 3.
The AS700 is developed by the Aviation Industry Corporation of China in response to market demand for low-altitude tourism, according to Zhang Jinhua, a designer at the AVIC Special Vehicle Research Institute.
The AS700 can carry a maximum of nine passengers, has a maximum range of 700 kilometers, and a maximum flight time of 10 hours, Zhang said.
The AS700 features a single-pilot system, a conventional single-bladder layout, an "X" layout rigid tail, and a non-retractable single-point landing gear.
"The AS700 is designed with lightweight polymer bladder materials and a highly reliable tear-resistant structure, and is equipped with helium safety valves to prevent overpressurization of the bladder and allow for a safe landing in the event of maneuvering system failure," Zhang said.
"The AS700's cabin is made of low-cost, lightweight composite materials. The passenger cabin is single-row, single-seat with viewing side windows," he said.
The AS700 can be equipped with cabinets, washrooms, and other living equipment, as well as photoelectric pods and high-definition camera equipment to perform aerial photography.
Manned airships can be used in tourism, physical exploration, ocean monitoring, and other applications, and the market demand is expected to reach one hundred in ten years, Zhang said.
(Source: the Science and Technology Daily)
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