THE world’s largest amphibious aircraft, the China-made AG600, has passed engine tests and is expected to make its maiden flight in the first half of this year.

    State aircraft maker Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) has spent almost eight years developing the AG600, which is roughly the size of a Boeing 737 and is designed to carry out marine rescues and battle forest fires, Xinhua said.

    In November, AVIC displayed the plane at China’s biggest meeting of aircraft makers and buyers.

    The aircraft has received 17 expressions of interest so far, Xinhua said late Tuesday. It has a maximum flight range of 4,500 km and a maximum take-off weight of 53.5 tons.

    China also showed off its Chengdu J-20 stealth fighter in public for the first time at the November airshow and in June last year put into service a new, domestically developed large transport aircraft.(SD-Agencies)