China's electric aircraft ready for takeoff

File photo taken on Feb 6, 2015 shows a two-seater electric aircraft RX1E flying in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province. After the test flights in low temperatures, RX1E has been put into production recently. The domestically developed electric aircraft has a 14.5-meter wingspan and a maximum payload of 230 kg. It can fly at an altitude of 3,000 meters. [Photo/Xinhua]

Every sunny day, there are always three white electric RX1E airplanes circling overhead at northern Shenyang's Caihu general aviation airport in Liaoning province.

The two-seater plane can fly for 45 to 60 minutes at a maximum speed of 120 kilometers an hour after an hour-and-a-half of charging. And it is China's first electric airplane which is ready for mass production.

Four aircraft are currently in service, and another 20 due to be produced this year.

"Due to the positive market feedback, we will build a new factory with an output of 100 aircraft per year. It is planned to go into operation in 2017," said Zhao Lijie, vice-president of Liaoning General Aviation Academy.