World’s largest Amphibious aircraft used for forest fire fighting tested in China
World’s largest Amphibious aircraft used for forest fire fighting tested in China
30 April 2017
published by http://www.timesnow.tv
China – Beijing: The world’s largest amphibious aircraft, built by China, sucessfully conducted its first glide test on Saturday in the southern Chinese city of Zhuhai, reported Xinhua news agency.
‘Other tests and check-ups are under way’, said China Aviation Industry General Aircraft Co Ltd.
Designed to be the world’s largest amphibious aircraft, the 37-meter AG600 with a wingspan of 38.8 meters, has a maximum take-off weight of 53.5 tonnes. ‘It can collect 12 tonnes of water in 20 seconds, and transport up to 370 tonnes of water on a single tank of fuel.’
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With ‘excellent manoeuvrability’, and a ‘relatively wide search scope range’, the AG600 will be mainly used for forest fire fighting, maritime rescue, marine environment monitoring and protection, the state news agency reported.
Aviation Industry Corp of China said in March that AG600 would embark on its maiden flight over land in late May and on water in the second half of 2017.
The aircraft developer has received orders for 17 AG600s, Xinhua news agency said.
