Airship to carry tourists, cargo

Aviation Industry Corp of China, a State-owned defense conglomerate, is developing a large manned airship and plans to conduct its maiden test flight in 2020, according to its designers.

"The aircraft will be tasked with carrying out aerial sightseeing or freight transportation, and will also be suitable for mineral surveys, marine surveillance, emergency response and counterterrorism operations," said Zhang Mingwen, head of the Special Aerial Vehicle Research Institute, an AVIC subsidiary in Jingmen, Hubei province, that is designing the blimp.

Propelled by two engines, the airship will be capable of carrying 840 kilograms and will be able to stay airborne for 24 hours, Zhang said.