A Chinese multi-function unmanned plane made its maiden flight Friday in the southwestern province of Guizhou.

The flight was carried out at Shuangyang Airport in Anshun Cityin central Guizhou, 91 kilometers from the provincial capital Guiyang.

The new generation unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) can be used for border patrol, disaster control and monitoring, remote sensing, meteorological surveying and geological prospecting, experts say.

The plane was designed and manufactured by China's Guizhou Aviation Industry Group Company, which started to work on the new generation of UAVs in 1999.

Two weeks ago, the Guizhou company rolled out a new type of trainer plane, the "Shanying", or Mountain Eagle.
 
(Xinhua News Agency December 27, 2003)