China’s giant AG600 seaplane rises to take-off and landing speed test, Avic says

Amphibious aircraft completes highest risk assessments, moving a big step closer to market

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Avic says its AG600 Kunlong has passed a major safety test. Photo: Weibo /Avic

Published: 9:00pm, 26 Oct 2024

The world’s biggest amphibious aircraft has passed one of the most challenging airworthiness tests, bringing it a step closer to market entry, according to its Chinese developer.

Aviation Industry Corporation of China (Avic) said on Friday night that the AG600 Kunlong passed a minimum unstick speed test in an assessment carried out in Pucheng county, Shaanxi province, in the country’s northwest.

The test is essential to determining an aircraft’s safe take-off and landing speeds.

Avic said the successful completion of this test laid a solid foundation for the AG600’s subsequent safety flight tests and airworthiness certification.

“It means that the highest risk tests for the AG600 aircraft, including the flight flutter test – aimed at proving the structural strength and stability of the aircraft against fluttering – and the minimum manoeuvring speed in the air, have all been passed,” the corporation said.

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The aircraft is a seaplane designed for maritime patrols and search and rescue operations. At roughly the size of a Boeing 737, the AG600 is the world’s largest amphibious aircraft, surpassing Japan’s ShinMaywa US-2 and Russia’s Beriev Be-200.