Inflatable plane soars at Tianjin exhibition   

揭秘“软体飞机”:不充气时可装进拉杆箱

这是一架飞机，不过，它有点与众不同，因为它可以被装进拉杆箱。这是一架飞机，不过，它是被“吹”起来的，它叫“软体飞机”。“软体飞机”除发动机和飞机架是用金属做成的外，其他整个躯体都没有采用硬质材料，全部采用柔软的复合材料做成，从整体上看是一种无骨架的感觉，因此将其称为“软体飞机”，来自新乡的参展商、飞机设计者张丙炎告诉记者。 [查看全文]

(ECNS) – A home-made inflatable plane has become a star at its debut at the 2014 Tianjin International UAV and Model Exhibition, according to dahe.cn.

The "Sf-1" plane was invented by Zhang Bingyan, a retired official who lives in Xinxiang, Henan province.

The plane is made mostly of soft composite material and can be folded and put into a suitcase.

The plane's average speed is 20 kilometers per hour, and it can fly at as high as 4,000 meters with a maximum load of 25 kilograms, said Zhang.

Its flexibility makes it impact-resistant, and it is unlikely to break even if it falls from the sky, Zhang added.

At a cost of 200,000 ($32,400) to 300,000 yuan ($48,600), the plane can be used for air photography, air surveys and remote monitoring.

Zhang said they have applied for an invention patent for the plane, which is expected to be approved in two months.

In the 1950s, American aircraft company Goodyear made an experimental aircraft called the Goodyear Inflatoplane, but the project was ultimately cancelled.