China's AG600, the world's largest amphibious aircraft in production, took off on its maiden flight on 24 Dec 17. The aircraft flew for an hour from Zhuhai airport, Guangdong on the South China Sea coast. This first flight delayed from earlier in the year after ground tests were conducted in April.
State-owned Aviation Industry Corp of China (AVIC) spent almost eight years developing the aircraft, which is roughly the size of a Boeing 737. The AG 600 is designed to carry out marine rescues and battle forest fires. Powered by four turboprop engines, the AG600 can carry 50 people during maritime search-and-rescue missions, and can scoop up 12 metric tons of water within 20 seconds for fire fighting trips. It has a maximum flight range of 4,500 km (2,800 miles) and a maximum take-off weight of 53.5 tonnes. It can use conventional airports and also land and take-off from the sea.
The aircraft has received 17 orders so far from Chinese government departments and Chinese companies.
BBC
Chinaaviationdaily.com
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