China begins trial production of world's largest amphibious aircraft

BEIJING: Trial production of the TA600 amphibious aircraft, intended to be the world's largest, has started in China and is expected to undertake its maiden flight next year, a company executive said today.

The aircraft, with a maximum takeoff weight of 53.5 tons and a maximum range of more than 5,000 km is larger than a Boeing 737 and could be used for fire fighting and air-sea rescue, Fu Junxu, general manager of China Aviation Industry General Aircraft Co. Ltd's Zhuhai branch said.

China began developing the aircraft five years ago, state-run Xinhua news agency quoted a company executive today. The trial production started following completion of the design process, he said.

Its maiden flight is expected to happen in late 2015, Fu said.

"After a period of trial flights, the aircraft will be put onto the market," he said. Upon completion, it will replace Japan's Shin Maywa US-2 aircraft as the largest amphibious aircraft in the world.