China makes world’s largest amphibious aircraft 

Beijing: The world’s second largest economy has unveiled its customized amphibious aircraft the AG600. The State-owned Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) has unveiled new plane in southern port city of Zhuhai. Being the size of a Boeing 737, the AG600 is the world’s largest amphibious place. Before the AG600, the largest amphibious cast was the H-4 Hercules, known as the Spruce Goose, which was designed in 1940s and used in World War-2.

The State-owned Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) on July 23 unveiled AG600 aircraft in Zhuhai, South China’s Guangdong province. AVIC has already received 17 orders for the plane so far.

The amphibious aircraft has a maximum flight range of 2,800 miles and can collect 12 tons of water in 20 seconds. Its maximum take-off weight is 53.5 tons. The amphibious aircraft is ideal for fighting forest fires and performing marine rescue operations. The maximum flight range is 2,800 miles and it can collect 12 tons of water in 20 seconds during emergencies.

The Chinese plane, which is targeted at the domestic market, will be ‘very useful in developing and exploiting marine resources,’ local media reported, adding that it could be used for ‘environmental monitoring, resource detection and transportation.’
AVIC Deputy General Manager, Geng Rugang, said the plane was ‘the latest breakthrough in China’s aviation industry.’ A plan for the development and production of the AG600 received government approval in 2009.
China is facing several disputes with its neighbors, including Japan, Vietnam and the Philippines, over the rights to develop economic resources in waters off its shores.
The Mail Online reports that the AG600 could potentially extend the Asian giant’s ability to conduct a variety of operations in the South China Sea, where it has built a series of artificial islands featuring air strips, among other infrastructure with the potential for either civilian or military use.

China is facing several disputes with its neighbors, including Japan, Vietnam and the Philippines, over the rights to develop economic resources in waters off its shores. The AG600 could potentially extend the Asian giant’s ability to conduct a variety of operations in the South China Sea.

Already AVIC has bagged 17 orders for the plane so far. China is in the process of developing its own aviation sector to reduce dependence on overseas aviation companies such as European consortium Airbus and Boeing of the United States, though analysts say it could take years.

In the aviation sector, China in 2015 made encouraging performance as against its history of delays and problems. In June, the Chinese-made ARJ21 - which stands for Advanced Regional Jet for the 21st century - made its first commercial flight, when Chengdu Airlines flew one from its home base to Shanghai. The country’s military began using its homegrown Y-20 heavy transport plane earlier this month. China has rolled out the C919, China’s first domestically developed narrow-body passenger plane, in November last year.