China debuts world’s largest amphibious aircraft flying in its sky

Beijing, December 24: World’s largest amphibious aircraft completed its maiden flight in south China's Guangdong Province today; it is the China's first home-grown large amphibious aircraft AG600. Its an an aircraft designed to further strengthen its influence over the South and East China Seas.

The aircraft AG600, code named "Kunlong," successfully soared into the sky from the Jinwan Civil Aviation Airport in the city of Zhuhai. The flight lasted about one hour. "Its successful maiden flight makes China among the world's few countries capable of developing a large amphibious aircraft," said Huang Lingcai, chief designer of AG600.

 

The aircraft, powered by four domestically-built turboprop engines, has a 39.6-meter-long fuselage and a 38.8-meter wingspan, said its developer, the state-owned Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC). According to the AVIC source, the amphibious aircraft, with a maximum take-off weight of 53.5 tonnes and a top cruising speed of 500 kilometers per hour, can fly for 12 hours at a time.

The amphibious aircraft has military applications but will also be used for firefighting and marine rescue, with at least 17 orders placed so far with AVIC, state media reported. AVIC states that the AG600 will be suitable for aerial firefighting, dropping 12 tonnes of water, and search and rescue operations for 50 passengers.