China's homegrown AG600M amphibious aircraft complete first test flights in year of the Snake

XI'AN -- Three AG600M "Kunlong" large amphibious aircraft, independently developed by the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), have concluded another round of test flights recently, marking a critical step toward airworthiness certification, AVIC has announced.

With the support of some 500 members of the aircraft research team, the mission was carried out on Monday at the AVIC civil aircraft test flight center in Pucheng, Northwest China's Shaanxi province. Throughout the process, the three aircraft underwent rigorous assessment tests, including flight control failure simulations, ice formation condition tests, and checks following upgrades to its avionics systems.

All three planes safely returned to the tarmac after completing the mission, AVIC said on Thursday.

These tests validated the aircraft's performance and safety, laying a solid foundation for subsequent airworthiness certification efforts, it said.

The AG600 family of amphibious aircraft is a cornerstone of China's efforts to bolster its emergency response capabilities. Designed to meet civil airworthiness standards, it is the country's first homegrown large special-purpose aircraft of such kind for firefighting, maritime rescue, and disaster relief operations.

As an upgraded variant, the AG600M boasts enhanced performance: a maximum takeoff weight of 60 tonnes, a 12-tonne water-carrying capacity, and a fight range of 4,500 kilometers. Its low-speed, short-runway capabilities make it ideal for complex missions, such as dousing wildfires or conducting open-sea rescues.

The AG600M prototype completed its first test landing on land in May 2022, followed by a successful landing on water for the first time in August that same year.