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COMAC's Electric Commercial Aircraft CE-25A Completes First Crewed Flight
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COMAC's Electric Commercial Aircraft CE-25A Completes First Crewed Flight

COMAC has successfully completed the first crewed flight of its electric commercial aircraft, the CE-25A. The 10-ton aircraft flew in Binzhou, Shandong province, on November 14, according to reports from China Central Television and Xinhua, which cited the company itself.

The crew consisted of two pilots and one flight test engineer. The flight lasted 57 minutes and 46 seconds, including 16 minutes and 38 seconds airborne, during which the aircraft covered a distance of 60.4 kilometers. COMAC reported that the operation proceeded normally, and all indicators met expectations.

This significant milestone followed the first unmanned intelligent flight of the CE-25A, which took place on February 2 of this year. Since then, the aircraft has completed 19 autonomous test flights. The Civil Aviation Administration of China has accepted COMAC's application for a type certificate, which is necessary for the aircraft design to begin commercial operation.

The CE-25A is COMAC's first electric commercial aircraft and is designed primarily for intercity passenger transport. The company provided detailed technical specifications and explained every letter in the model name. The letter 'C' stands for China and is the first letter of COMAC. 'E' indicates electric propulsion, and the aircraft is equipped with a distributed electric motor system with wing-mounted propellers.

The number '25' refers to Part 25 of Chinese civil aviation regulations (CCAR-25), which establishes airworthiness standards for transport categories. COMAC emphasized that this means the CE-25A meets the same safety requirements as large commercial airliners. The letter 'A' designates it as the first product in this line.

The selection of this regulatory category distinguishes the CE-25A from many other electric aircraft projects focused on smaller classes or eVTOL taxis. Certifying a 19-seater electric aircraft under transport category rules is a complex process, and the submission of the type certificate application marks the official start of this process.

The aircraft's development was conducted in collaboration with battery manufacturer CATL, Jiaotong University of Shanghai, and other partners. The company has not yet set a timeline for receiving certification or commencing commercial operations, nor has it disclosed details about the battery system or the number of propellers.

The transition to carrying human passengers marked the program's shift from the autonomous testing phase to crewed flights.

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CASC Academy tests small solar drone Qingqibing with a claimed flight duration of 30 hours
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CASC Academy tests small solar drone Qingqibing with a claimed flight duration of 30 hours

The Academy of Type 11 of the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) reported the successful completion of the first flight of its small and medium-sized solar drone on November 11 at an airfield in northwestern China. According to Chinese reports, this apparatus has been named 'Qingqibing,' which translates approximately to 'Light Cavalry.'

Since no official English name for the drone was found in the analyzed sources, the article uses the Pinyin name and its descriptive translation. The main sources of information were reports from Xinhua, published in First Financial, and IT Home.

The aircraft uses exclusively solar energy obtained from photovoltaic cells located on the surface of the wings during sunlight. It is classified as a commercial electric aircraft measuring 3.2 meters in length and having a wingspan of 8 meters, with a maximum calculated flight duration of 30 hours. It is important to note that the reports did not specify how long the first flight lasted, nor were any endurance test results published.

The drone's design features a modular payload system that can be quickly equipped with equipment for remote communication or surveillance using remote sensing. The apparatus is capable of being launched from a ground vehicle after about twenty minutes of preparation, allowing it to be used where there is no runway. Reports indicate this makes it suitable for emergency communication and temporary monitoring where response speed is critical.

Sources characterize it as the first commercial small and medium-sized pure solar drone in China, although this characteristic is an assessment by the organization itself and has not been independently verified. Nevertheless, the Academy, which also functions as the Chinese Academy of Aerodynamics, has been involved in solar flight research for many years.

Previously, this academy tested a much larger solar airplane from its Rainbow, or Caihong, series, which, according to People's Daily Overseas in 2017, successfully underwent near-space testing at an altitude of about 20 kilometers. The new drone belongs to a different class and is intended for low-altitude missions with rapid deployment, rather than prolonged high-altitude presence.

Some practical details remain unpublished, including payload weight, cruising speed, ceiling, and the number of units produced, as well as any delivery schedules or clients. IT Home notes that the officially disclosed information so far focuses on the platform's dimensions, flight duration, and deployment capabilities.

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