Back to the Future: China Revives Blimps, Now Fully Electric
Decades after blimps faded from the skies, China is betting on a comeback — this time with zero emissions. Last week, the country’s first all-electric airship completed its maiden flight, part of an ambitious push to expand low-altitude aviation, a growing sector focused on tourism, logistics, and eco-friendly transport below 1,000 meters.
The AS700D “Xiangyun” — or “Auspicious Cloud,” a traditional symbol of good fortune in Chinese culture — conducted four takeoffs and landings in Jingmen, a city in central China’s Hubei province.
Developed by the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), a state-owned aerospace and defense giant, the AS700D is a fully electrified upgrade of the AS700, China’s first manned airship, which began commercial operations in September 2024.
Unlike its predecessor, which consumes about 45 liters of gasoline per hour, the AS700D is entirely electric. “The AS700D airship is powered entirely by lithium batteries, making it nearly zero-emission during flight and significantly reducing noise levels,” Zhou Lei, the airship’s chief designer, told state-run Xinhua News Agency.
The new model retains the AS700’s maximum altitude of 3,100 meters and 10-person capacity, but sacrifices speed and endurance. While the AS700 can fly up to 700 kilometers over 10 hours, the AS700D has a maximum range of just 60 to 70 kilometers and a flight time of 1.5 hours at a top speed of 80 kilometers per hour.
However, AVIC says the electric airship offers greater stability and smoother handling. Unlike conventional aircraft that lose weight as they burn fuel, the AS700D’s battery maintains a consistent mass, making takeoffs and landings easier to control.
The company claims the improved design makes it particularly suited for operations in areas with strict environmental regulations, such as nature reserves and ecologically sensitive zones. “It can also be used for aerial photography, security monitoring, traffic control, and communication relay during large-scale events such as concerts and marathons,” Zhou said.
Describing the experience after landing, pilot Lin Hong said, “The electric airship feels lighter and smoother, much like driving a new energy vehicle. It also produces less noise, making both the piloting and passenger experience more comfortable.”
AVIC hopes the AS700D will help drive China’s expanding low-altitude economy, a rapidly growing sector that includes tourism, cargo transport, and aerial services below 1,000 meters, in most cases.
Since being introduced into China’s national development plans in 2021, multiple regions have launched pilot zones, encouraged enterprise participation, and refined flight regulations to accelerate its growth.
According to market research firm iiMedia Research, China’s low-altitude economy grew rapidly between 2022 and 2024, reaching a market size of 480.7 billion yuan ($66 billion) last year. Projections suggest it could surpass 3.5 trillion yuan by 2035.
Editor: Apurva.
(Header image: China’s AS700D all-electric airship during its maiden flight in Jingmen, Hubei Province, Feb. 21, 2025. Xinhua)
