New training aircraft delivered to customers

The AG100, a new-generation trainer aircraft made by Aviation Industry Corp of China, began to be delivered to users on Friday.

At a delivery ceremony at the AG100's manufacturing complex in Deqing, Zhejiang province, six AG100s were delivered to representatives from two buyers — Henan New Silk Road Flight College and Zhuhai AVIC Flight School.

In the next several weeks, these planes will undergo necessary checks and are scheduled to enter formal operation in March, according to Ren Peiyu, project manager of the AG100.

Built by the Zhejiang China Aviation Industry General Aircraft Institute, a subsidiary of AVIC General Aircraft, the AG100 is a lightweight basic training plane for civilian flight students.

The three-seat plane is mainly made with low-cost composite materials and uses gasoline.

The aircraft features advanced technologies, good operational economy, easy maintenance and high safety, which makes it fit to be flown by entry-level aviators, said Ren, who is a senior manager of the institute.

"Compared with its competitors in the international market, the AG100 has several advantages: its light weight — thanks to the use of composite materials — a unique wing design, and a high-performance engine promise lower operational costs. It has a monitor that can be used by the back seat student that allows him or her to learn avionics and communications," he said. "It also has a special parachute that will be activated in case of emergencies, and that will ensure the safety of the crew."

According to Ren, his institute estimates that about 100 light-duty training planes will be needed each year in the Chinese market, which means there will be huge opportunities for the new aircraft.

"We plan to expand the annual manufacturing capacity at the Deqing factory to 20 before the end of this year, and will strive to increase the number to at least 30 before the end of 2025," the manager said.

The research and development of the AG100 started in April 2017. It conducted its maiden flight in June 2020 and has since flown hundreds of hours to test its capability and reliability.

In November 2023, the Civil Aviation Administration of China issued the type certificate for the AG100. At the end of last year, the administration issued a production certificate for the plane, permitting large-scale manufacturing.

According to specifications published by AVIC, the training plane is 7.26 meters long with a wingspan of 10.4 meters. It can carry one trainer and two students.

zhaolei@chinadaily.com.cn