Recently, the Xiangyun AS700, a domestically - developed manned airship, successfully accomplished a round - trip flight between Jingmen and Wuhan. This historic flight marked China's inaugural commercial voyage of a manned airship. The Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) has taken a bold step by launching a corporate online store on Taobao, where the Xiangyun AS700 is available for sale at a price of 24.99 million yuan per unit. To initiate a purchase, a deposit of 50,000 yuan is mandatory.

Given its hefty price, the majority of sales are currently taking place offline. The primary buyers are government units and state - owned enterprises. These entities plan to utilize the airship for a variety of purposes, including scenic tours, aerial advertising, and more. So far, the Xiangyun AS700 has secured a total of 42 signed sales contracts, with innovative application cases emerging in multiple regions.

After acquiring the airship, relevant units are required to take several crucial steps before they can commence operations. Firstly, they need to recruit and equip professional pilots. Additionally, they must obtain commercial operation qualifications as well as airspace usage qualifications. In terms of specifications, the AS700 has a maximum takeoff weight of 4,150 kilograms. It can cover a maximum range of 700 kilometers and stay airborne for a maximum of 10 hours. With a maximum flight speed of 100 kilometers per hour, it has the capacity to carry up to 10 people.