China has completed production of the world’s largest amphibious
aircraft after nearly seven years of work on the AG600 developed for use
in emergency operations.
State-run China
Daily reported July 24 that the AG600 – which measures 37 meters long
and has a wingspan of 38.8 meters, around the size of a Boeing 737 –
rolled off a production line in southern Zhuhai city on July 23.
According
to the state aircraft maker, Aviation Industry Corporation of China,
the aircraft has a maximum takeoff weight of 53.5 tons and a maximum
cruising speed of 500 kilometers per hour.
Its maximum flight range stands at 4,500 kilometers with maximum endurance of 12 hours.
The Aviation Industry Corporation of China
plans to target the domestic market with the aircraft, which has the
capacity to rescue as many as 50 people far offshore, collect 12 tons of
water in 20 seconds and transport up to 370 tons of water with one tank
of fuel.