Orders for 50 Lingyan (Leading Eagle) model AG50 light-sport aircraft were received by the AVIC Special (Aerial) Vehicle Research Institute at Airshow China 2018.

The planes currently are on the final assembly line and expected to make their first flights early next year.

The buyers, Zonye Huawei Holding from Ningpo of Zhejiang Province, Beijing Silu General Aviation, and Panjin Yuelong General Aviation in Liaoning Province, signed procurement contracts with the institute on Nov 8.

Purchasers say the aircraft are cost-effective, visually impactful, and easily serve purposes from flight training to sport flying and private air services.

Procurement signing

The two-seater is 6.5m (21.3 ft) long and 9.11m (29.9 ft) wide. It has a height of 2.33m (7.6 ft). Its maximum takeoff weight is 600 kg (1,323 lbs) with the payload limited to 240 kg (529 lbs). It can fly at a top speed of 215 kmph (134 mph) with a range of up to 800 km (497 miles).

For the first time, clay modeling technology applied to auto design was introduced to optimize fuselage design and improve painting.

According to a designer, the aircraft can be powered by ordinary gasoline. What's more, the modular design allows instant switching between landing gear and buoys to allow the plane to proceed on land or water.

General aviation was one of the hotter areas at the Zhuhai aviation exhibition. Based in part on that interest, AVIC is estimating domestic demand for more than 2,000 Lingyan AG50s within 15 years.

Lingyan AG50 [Photos courtesy Zhuhai Daily]