Xi sends congratulatory messages on AG600's first water takeoff, landing
Xinhua
1540021449000
Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday sent congratulatory messages on the successful water takeoff and landing of the AG600, China's independently-developed large amphibious aircraft. (Photo: VCG)
The success of the first on-water flight of the AG600 marked another significant achievement through independent innovation by China's aviation industry, said Xi (Photo: VCG)
The flight was carried out Saturday morning in the city of Jingmen of central China's Hubei Province. (Photo: VCG)
At around 8:51 a.m., the plane took off from the surface of a reservoir near Zhanghe Airport of Jingmen under the command of captain Zhao Sheng and his crew. It landed smoothly and steadily on water after a 14-minute flight. (Phott: VCG)
The AG600, a large-scale special-purpose civil aircraft designed to assist with forest firefighting and water rescues, is the third member of China's "large aircraft family" following the large freighter Y-20 and large passenger aircraft C919. (VCG)
Developed by Aviation Industry Corporation of China, the aircraft is powered by four domestically designed turboprop engines and is roughly the size of a Boeing 737. It has a maximum takeoff weight of 53.5 tonnes. (VCG)
When used to help put out a forest fire, it is able to collect 12 tonnes of water at a time and make multiple trips to fetch water. (VCG)