World’s largest amphibious aircraft passes ground tests in China (VIDEO)
China has successfully tested its enormous amphibious aircraft known as the AG600. The massive airplane with a maximum take-off weight of 53.5 tons conducted a series of ground tests in the southern Chinese city of Zhuhai, according to local media.
In final preparations for its maiden flight, the plane, that is set to be the cornerstone of China’s emergency rescue efforts, conducted a successful “glide test” on Sunday, Xinhua reported.
China's large amphibious aircraft AG600 successfully conducted its 1st glide test in S. China's Zhuhai as it prepares for its maiden flight pic.twitter.com/uDj6uzdvXd
— People's Daily,China (@PDChina) April 30, 2017
Designed and built in China by the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), the AG600 is reportedly set to be the largest amphibious aircraft in the world, roughly the size of a Boeing 737.
RT @alert5: First taxi test of AG600 amphibian pic.twitter.com/jXxEcyTeXt おいおい…今度は海自のUS-2をパクったのかよ…
— ブラックシャドウ司令官 (@sireikan15dj) April 30, 2017
Other tests and check-ups are now under way before the plane makes its maiden flight and can be deployed to undertake ocean rescues and to combat forest fires.
READ MORE: China eyes maiden flight of world’s biggest amphibious plane after engine test
In March AVIC said that AG600 is scheduled for a maiden flight over land in late May and on water in the second half of 2017.
The 37-meter-long AG600 with a wingspan of 38.8 meters, can take off and touch down on both land and water. The amphibious plane can store and drop 12 tons of water and make some 30 rounds without refueling, which makes it ideal to battling wildfires. With a capacity of up to 50 passengers, the AG600 can also be deployed in search and rescue operations over water.
