China's Largest AG600 Amphibious Aircraft Completes Flight Trials

China-made world's largest amphibious aircraft, the AG600, completed trial ground flights and has entered a new test phase on the water-surface, the plane's manufacturer, the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), said on Monday.

The AG600, codenamed "Kunlong", successfully finished a trial flight from an airport in the city of Zhuhai, south China's Guangdong Province, to an airport in Jingmen, a city in central China's Hubei Province, on Sunday.

The company said that it marked the start of a new journey for AG600 -- a test phase on the water. The aircraft passed a series of tests since its maiden flight last December. Next, it will conduct tests and trial flights on the water, in Jingmen. 

The AVIC said in mid-May that China expected to deliver the AG600 to customers by 2022.

The aircraft is the largest of its kind not only in China, but also in the world. It is designed to extinguish fires and carry out rescue operations on the water. In addition, AG600 can use additional equipment for monitoring the marine environment, passenger and freight traffic, as well as exploration of mineral deposits.

The aircraft is equipped with four turboprop engines and is able to receive on board 12 tonnes of water in 20 seconds. According to its developer, the state-owned Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), AG600 has 130-feet-long fuselage, 127-feet wingspan, maximum flight range of 2,800 miles and maximum take-off weight of 53.5 tonnes.