China Working on Development of New Aircraft

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 ◆ China Working on Development of New Aircraft

China has been financing a research project that might help develop a new type of aircraft capable of unrestricted take-offs and landings, as well as flying in outer space.

Beijing Youth Daily recently quoted Zhuang Fenggan, member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, as saying that intense research was underway on core issues concerning key technology for building the aircraft.

"The new aircraft should take off like ordinary planes after a propeller is added," said Zhuang, who also works with the China Aerospace Science and Technology Group.

Spacecraft currently available cannot fulfill these expectations, according to Zhuang, who added that researchers were tackling six key technologies, including highly supersonic technology.