China's electric aircraft makes debut flight

The AG60E, China's self-developed two-seater light-sport aircraft, makes its debut flight in Jiande of Hangzhou city, Zhejiang province, on Jan 3, 2024. [Photo/Weibo account of SASAC]

The AG60E, a type of electric plane developed by the State-owned conglomerate Aviation Industry Corp of China, made its first flight on Wednesday, according to the corporation.

The company said in a news release that an AG60E prototype took off from the Qiandaohu General Aviation Airport in Zhejiang province's Jiande and landed on the same airport after conducting a short test flight.

Developed and built by AVIC General Aircraft, the AG60E is an electrically powered version of the AG60 light-weight utility plane and has been designed for civilian purposes such as flight training, agricultural survey and aerial sightseeing.

Researchers from Tongfei Yema, a subsidiary of Aviation Industry Corp of China, pose for a group photo at Qiandaohu General Aviation Airport in Jiande of Hangzhou city, Zhejiang province, on Jan 3, 2024. [Photo/Weibo account of SASAC]

Specifications about the new electric plane have yet to be published.

An AG60 is 6.9 meters long with a wingspan of 8.6 meters. It can fly to an altitude of 3.6 kilometers and has a maximum speed of 218 km per hour. The plane's flight range is about 1,100 km, according to the corporation.