The SVAM CA-80 is a

non-rigid airship A blimp, or non-rigid airship, is an airship (dirigible) without an internal structural framework or a keel. Unlike semi-rigid and rigid airships (e.g. Zeppelins), blimps rely on the pressure of the lifting gas (usually helium, rather than hydr ...

built by the Shanghai Vantage Airship Manufacture Co. in

China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion, slightly ahead of India. China spans the equivalent of five time zones and ...

. According to the makers, this is the first blimp totally designed and manufactured by Chinese engineers. It has been certified as a grade A Hi-Tech introduction program o. 20000186in Shanghai in 2000 and it had a successful trial flight in September 2001. The

CAAC The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC; ) is the Chinese civil aviation authority under the Ministry of Transport. It oversees civil aviation and investigates aviation accidents and incidents. As the aviation authority responsible fo ...

authority has granted a type design approval and certificate of airworthiness for this model of airship. Two airships of this model have been successfully produced and purchased by the Dalian General Aviation Company. The CA-80 began commercial operation from Oct. 2005 by Vantage Airship.

References

* vantageship.com
retrieved 2008-07-10 Airships of China 2000s Chinese civil utility aircraft {{Aero-2000s-stub