ZHUAHAI: China’s independently-developed AS700 civil manned airship has received an additional 10 purchase orders, marking its readiness for commercial operations, as announced by its developer, the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC).

According to Namibia Press Agency, the total number of booked orders for the AS700 has now reached 23. This development was revealed at the 15th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition, commonly known as Airshow China, held in the port city of Zhuhai in Guangdong Province, south China. The signing ceremony on Tuesday also included the signing of 164 intended orders for the airship.

The AS700 is a single-capsule manned airship with a maximum flight range of 700 km and an endurance of 10 hours. It is designed to reach a maximum speed of 100 km per hour and can carry up to 10 people, including a pilot. The first AS700 airship was delivered in September of this year. As a new type of low-altitude aviation equipment, the China-made manned airship is expecte
d to play a significant role in the low-altitude economy in China, according to AVIC.