China unveils world's largest float plane



China has completed production of the world's largest amphibious aircraft which will be used to fight forest fires and perform marine rescues. The aircraft, dubbed the AG600, is around the size of a Boeing 737 - far larger than any other plane built to take off and land on water.  It has a maximum flight range of 2,800 miles and can collect 12 tonnes of water in 20 seconds. Its maximum take-off weight of 53.5 tonnes.

The production is the latest effort in the country's program to wean itself off dependence on foreign aviation firms. The Chinese plane, which is targeted at the domestic market, will be 'very useful in developing and exploiting marine resources,' local media reported, adding that it could be used for 'environmental monitoring, resource detection and transportation'.

Despite a history of delays and problems, China's aviation industry has made rapid progress in the last year. It rolled out the C919, China's first domestically developed narrow-body passenger plane, in November last year"

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