World's largest amphibious aircraft AG600 receives type certificate in China
The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) granted the type certificate for the AG600 aircraft on Sunday after a long development process.
Manufactured by the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), the AG600 is the world’s largest civil amphibious aircraft and its design was launched in 2009.
With a maximum takeoff weight of 60 tons, the four-turboprop aircraft was created with the mission of meeting the needs of the national emergency rescue system and the national natural disaster prevention and control system, the Chinese government said.
The AG600 is 38.9 meters long, 11.7 meters high and has a wingspan of 38.8 meters, and can fly up to 4,500 kilometers at an altitude of 7,600 meters. Its tank can carry up to 12 tons of water for firefighting missions.
AVIC designed the AG600 to maintain a minimum level flight speed of 220 km/h and a minimum operational flight altitude of 30 to 50 meters.
Low-speed performance is important to maximize the delivery of firefighting material over forests, for example.
First delivery expected in October
According to AVIC, the development of the amphibious aircraft involved the participation of 22 Chinese cities and provinces, 292 companies and public institutions, and 16 universities across the country.
However, development was quite slow, with the maiden flight taking place in 2017, eight years after the program was launched.
The first take-off from a water took place in 2018 and the maiden flight over the sea in 2020. In 2023, the AG600 was ready to perform firefighting tasks.
AVIC is now aiming to obtain serial production certification for the Ag600 by the end of August in order to make the first delivery in October.
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