Photo taken on Oct 1, 2018 shows the AG600, China’s independently-developed large amphibious aircraft, under high-speed taxiing test on water in Jingmen, Central China’s Hubei province. The AG600 has successfully completed the high-speed taxiing test on water on Oct 1. [Photo/Xinhua]
GUANGZHOU — China’s independently-developed large amphibious aircraft, the AG600, on October 2 completed its first taxiing at high speed on the water, according to China Aviation Industry General Aircraft Co Ltd (CAIGA).
The test at a speed of 145 kilometers per hour was carried out in the city of Jingmen of Central China’s Hubei province.
CAIGA, headquartered in the Southern province of Guangdong, said that the AG600, code-named Kunlong, was in stable condition and functioned normally during the test.
Designed to be the world’s largest amphibious aircraft, the AG600 is powered by four domestically built turboprop engines and has a range of 12 hours. It will be mainly used for maritime rescue, fighting forest fires and marine monitoring.
The aircraft has passed a series of tests since its maiden flight last December. It successfully finished eight taxiing tests on water at a speed of 80 km per hour and 120 km per hour.
The crew and staff workers pose for photos after the first high-speed taxiing test on water of AG600, China’s independently-developed large amphibious aircraft, in Jingmen, Central China’s Hubei province, Oct 1, 2018. [Photo/Xinhua]
