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The dream of buying a private airplane will come true coming year. Produced by a joint venture of Shanyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC), the super-light EV-97 airplanes will have a 475kg weight, 2.34m height, 5.98m length, at speeds of 180-200kph.
Mr. Lin Guoxian, deputy-director with civil aviation control dept. under SAC, give a detailed description of these "new members" of private airplanes. According to international standards, airplanes lighter than 500kg are classified as super-light. Hence, the joint venture has listed 2002 EV-97 super-light airplanes, of huge market potential, as its first product.
The low requirement on runways also contributes to the convenience and high speed of these airplanes, which only call for 200m and 400m for taking off and landing respectively. Mr. Lin Guoxian also added ordinary runways, lawns or even roads can be used for taking off and landing in case of emergency. Moreover, due to two of 8m-long wings and parachutes installed, these airplanes are more secure and lower-noise than helicopters. In terms of efficiency, Mr. Lin Guoxian illustrated with examples. There is 400km far away from Shenyang to Dalian, which takes four hours by bus, however, only two hours on these airplanes with an oil consumption of six liters every 100kg. Thus, such means of transportation is highly effective to government functionaries who have a frequent business trip within Liaoning province.
Then, opening-up of China's air space and licenses of pilots will ensue after having private airplanes. As learned, draft Provision on General Aviation Flying Control has been finished, which is expected to achieve breakthroughs in some aspects.
(China Daily December 13, 2002)
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