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The Chinese are known for having made some of the most brilliant innovations known to mankind through the ages. However, adding to the list of innovation is the domestically developed AG600. The aircraft is reportedly the world's largest amphibious aircraft. The plane carried out its first flight on Sunday from coastal city of Zhuhai airport near the disputed South China Sea. This is regarded as the latest step in modernising it military by China. As of now, the aircraft has received 17 orders from various Chinese government departments and Chinese companies. The maximum flight range of AG600 is about 4,500 km and it can carry a maximum weight of 53.5 tonnes. (Reuters)
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The AG600 amphibious aircraft can carry 50 people during search-and-rescue missions. The aircraft can also scoop up 12 metric tons of water within 20 seconds for firefighting trips. The aircraft has been code-named "Kunlong". (Reuters)
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"Its successful maiden flight makes China among the world's few countries capable of developing a large amphibious aircraft," Xinhua news agency quoted Huang Lingcai, chief designer of AG600, as saying. (Reuters)
The aircraft is 39.6-metre-long fuselage and has a 38.8-metre wingspan, said its developer, the state-owned Aviation Industry Corporation of China. (Reuters) 
The AG600 will have a top cruising speed of 500 km per hour. The aircraft can fly for 12 hours at a time. (Reuters)
