First AS700 airship delivered by AVIC for low altitude sightseeing
September 25, 2024
The Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) has delivered the first crewed AS700 airship, augmented by additional orders for a further 12 units for low-altitude sightseeing tours.
AVIC delivered the blimp to private company Guangxi Guilin Fangzhou General Aviation during a private ceremony to mark the beginning of the airship’s commercial operation. The aircraft had recently flown across three Chinese provinces (Hubei, Hunan and Guangxi) in August, explained its manufacturer, “setting new records for the longest flight duration and longest range [1,000km] achieved by a domestically developed manned airship in China”.
National publication China Daily reported that Guangxi Guilin Fangzhou General Aviation and China Comfort Travel Group had placed orders for a further 12 airships to be used for tourism purposes, although it is unclear whether these will serve different geographical locations.
According to AVIC, the airship has a maximum range of 700km, a maximum endurance of ten hours, and capacity for ten people including one pilot. It received type certification from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) in December 2023.
“With 306 passengers participating in 15 days of flight experiences, the airship’s safety and reliability was thoroughly validated,” continued AVIC in a statement, which also collected data on passenger safety and comfort throughout the fortnight-long trial.
During a previous low-altitude demonstration flight in Jingmen, central China’s Hubei Province, the AS700 flew over multiple tourist attractions at 60kmh at an altitude of 500m, with AVIC explaining that the “large panoramic side windows offered passengers a unique ‘sky sea rowing’ experience”. In July, the aircraft also underwent a continuous 72-hour continuous outdoor mooring test, laying a “solid foundation for establishing and optimising subsequent operational support methods”.
