China has successfully conducted test
flight of an unmanned helicopter, the largest of its kind developed in the country.
An unmanned helicopter successfully completed its first flight in Weifang City of east China's Shandong Province Saturday, the state-run
media said Sunday.
The medium-sized unmanned helicopter, with a maximum takeoff weight of 757 kg, departed from the flight-test centre of Weifang Tianxiang Aerospace Industry Co Ltd and hovered for ten minutes,
performing a few manoeuvres before finishing with a stable landing, Xinhua news agency reported.
The helicopter, model number "V750", has a load capacity of over 80 kg. It can fly a maximum speed of 161 km per hour with a cruising duration of over four hours.
The aircraft can be controlled by humans within a distance of over 150 km or automatically fly following input by its programs.
Further, it could be used in surveillance, search and rescue, and scientific exploration in both military and civilian purposes, said Cheng Shenzong, Chairman of the Weifang Tianxiang Aerospace Industry Co Ltd.
The helicopter has been developed together by organisations including Weifang Tianxiang Aerospace Industry Co Ltd, Qingdao Haili Helicopters Manufacturing Co Ltd, China National Aero-Technology
Import and Export Corporation in August 2010.