The unmanned aerial vehicle CH-4, or "Caihong (Rainbow) 4", developed by China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation for civil use, completes its maiden flight in Zhejiang at Zhoushan Putuo airport on Sept 3. [Photo/taizhou.com.cn]

The unmanned aerial vehicle CH-4, or "Caihong (Rainbow) 4", developed by China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation for civil use, completed its maiden flight in Zhejiang at Zhoushan Putuo Airport on Sept 3.

It is the first drone to roll off the production line at the China Rainbow series drone production base in Taizhou, according to He Shaoshuai, project manager at Rainbow Drone Technology Co Ltd.

A total of eight CH-4 drones will be deployed across the nation for emergency mapping services.

The drone, 8.5 meters in length and 3.4 meters in height, can run for more than 30 hours and fly at a height of up to 7,500 meters, carrying a maximum payload of 345 kilograms.

It has set numerous records among civilian UAVs in Zhejiang: longest flight duration, largest payload, and strongest communication, transmission and back-end automated processing capabilities, said Li Aiqing, vice president of the Zhejiang provincial institute of surveying and mapping science and technology.

The aircraft's mapping instruments can receive optical remote sensing images, SAR data and high-definition video of key areas when major public emergencies and natural disasters occur.