Article Posted on : - Jun 20, 2015

Image via internet.

BEIJING (PTI): China has made the world's first electric passenger aircraft that could be used in pilot training, tourism, meteorology and rescue operations, state media has reported.

The BX1E has a 14.5-metre wingspan and a maximum payload of 230 kgs. It can fly at an altitude of 3,000 metres.

The charging is completed within two hours, allowing a flight time of 45 minutes to one hour, at a maximum speed of 160 km per hour, Xinhua news agency reported.

The plane, which has received airworthiness certificate, was designed by Shenyang Aerospace University and Liaoning general aviation academy in the northeastern Liaoning Province.

The first two aircraft were delivered to Liaoning Ruixiang General Aviation Co., Ltd. on Thursday.

The aircraft can be used in pilot training, tourism, meteorology and rescue operations, the report said.

Each aircraft is priced at about one million yuan (USD 163,000). The number of orders for the aircraft has reached 28, the report said