A unique “air guest” recently arrived in Yuecheng, a district of Shaoxing City, Zhejiang Province, reports China Global Television Network. The Xiangyun AS700 airship, nicknamed the “airy beluga”, was delivered to the Jianshui Science and Technology Center, becoming the first manned AS700 to officially arrive in East China. According to representatives of the Special Vehicles Research Institute of the Aviation Industry Corporation of China, this event marks an important milestone for the commercial use of manned airships.

New capabilities of Chinese aviation

The AS700 is entirely developed by the institute and is China’s first manned airship to fully meet national airworthiness requirements. The airship can carry up to ten passengers over a distance of up to 700 kilometers. The length of the airship is 50 meters. Because of its streamlined, cloud-like shape, it was given the name “Xianyun,” which translates to “auspicious cloud.”

“The AS700 is capable of flying at low altitudes at low speeds, with a high level of safety and reliability,” the developers note.

The airship provides visibility at an altitude of 100 to 300 meters, allowing passengers to admire the waterways and scenic scenery of the Jiangnan region. According to experts, this type of tourism opens up new opportunities for exploring local attractions that are inaccessible by conventional land routes.

Preparing for commercial flights

The airship will undergo additional test flights in Yuecheng in the coming months to prepare for commercial use. It is planned that the pilot school will open to the general public next year after receiving all the necessary certificates. The training is training the first three AS700 pilots who will then provide professional support for future operations.

The goal of the project is to create an integrated industrial chain for manned airships and create an economic ecosystem for low-altitude aviation. Experts note that technological innovations in this area can stimulate economic growth in regions with low urban density and help expand the capabilities of domestic airship construction.

“Our project demonstrates how scientific developments can be transformed into real industrial solutions, opening new horizons for tourism and the Chinese economy,” representatives of the institute emphasized.

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Published on:2026-01-11 17:23:00
Source: naukatv.ru