China's first 7-tonne-class large transport drone, Changying-8, completed its maiden flight on Tuesday at the Zhengzhou Shangjie Airport in central China's Henan Province, becoming the largest cargo drone in the world to have flown.

The drone smoothly accelerated along the runway and took off in just 280 meters, successfully completing the verification of key subjects for various systems, including the intelligent flight control, avionics, electromechanical systems, power and fuel, and flight quality.

After a flight of about 30 minutes, the drone concluded the mission in an accurate and stable landing.

The entire flight was managed by an intelligent system with manual monitoring, during which the drone maintained stable flight attitude and all systems functioned well.

This achievement marks a significant breakthrough for China in the field of 7-tonne-class intelligent unmanned transport platforms, and a key technological leap in advanced intelligent aviation logistics equipment.

Dubbed the "unmanned air truck," the cargo aircraft was independently developed by China North Industries Groups Corporation.

Measuring 17 meters in length with a wingspan of 25 meters, it features an ultra-large cargo hold of 18 cubic meters, capable of accommodating multiple types of standard aviation containers as well as specialized cold-chain storage boxes. It can complete loading and unloading within 15 minutes, significantly improving logistics turnover efficiency.

The drone boasts a maximum takeoff weight of 7 tonnes, a payload capacity of 3.5 tonnes, and a range exceeding 3,000 kilometers. It is capable of high-altitude takeoffs and landings as well as short takeoffs and landings on runways as short as 200 meters, enabling operations in diverse environmental conditions.

In the future, it is expected to support a wide range of applications, such as domestic regional e-commerce logistics, routine supply of living and infrastructure materials in high-altitude and island regions, emergency rescue operations, and flood control and disaster relief efforts.

China's low-altitude economy is rapidly advancing toward a new stage of large-scale application. The successful maiden flight of the Changying-8 will promote its airworthiness certification, mass production delivery and commercial operation, providing a safe, efficient and intelligent low-altitude transportation solution.