Amphibious Aircraft

China unveils world’s largest amphibious aircraft used to fight forest fires and perform marine rescues.

17:13 26 July 2016

China has completed the production of AG600, the world’s largest amphibious aircraft built to take off and land on water. Its maximum take-off weight is 53.5 tonnes while its maximum flight range is 2,800 miles. It can collect 12 tonnes of water in 20 seconds. 

 

The aircraft, which is around the size of a Boeing 737, has been unveiled in the southern port city of Zhuhai by state-owned Aviation Industry Corporation of China.

 

Local media reported that the plane will be “very useful in developing and exploiting resources” and that it could be used for “environmental monitoring, resource detection and transportation.”

 

Meanwhile, AVIC deputy general manager, Geng Rugang, described the plane as ‘the latest breakthrough in China’s aviation industry.”

 

China is currently locked in disputes with several of its neighbours, including the Philippines, Japan and Vietnam, over the rights to develop economic resources in waters off its shores.

 

Despite a history of delays and problems, China’s aviation industry has made rapid progress in the last year. In November, it developed its first domestically narrow-body passenger plane and in June, its very own ARJ21 made its first commercial flight.