China conducts trials with three AG600M amphibious aircraft
China has conducted tests on three AG600M amphibious aircraft. These aircraft are designed for various roles, including firefighting and maritime rescue operations. The testing process is a significant step in evaluating their performance and capabilities in diverse environments.
TroibNews 
Three AG600M "Kunlong" large amphibious aircraft, developed independently by the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), recently completed another series of test flights, which AVIC has announced as a significant advancement toward airworthiness certification.
Supported by approximately 500 members of the aircraft research team, the test flights took place on Monday at AVIC's civil aircraft test flight center in Pucheng, located in northwest China's Shaanxi Province. During this mission, the aircraft underwent a comprehensive series of evaluation tests, which included simulations of flight control failures, tests for ice formation conditions, and checks following upgrades to the avionics systems.
AVIC reported on Thursday that all three aircraft safely returned to the tarmac after their successful mission.
These tests confirmed the aircraft's performance and safety standards, providing a robust foundation for future airworthiness certification efforts.
The AG600 family of amphibious aircraft is integral to China's initiatives aimed at enhancing emergency response capabilities. Designed to conform to civil airworthiness standards, it represents the country’s first domestically produced large special-purpose aircraft intended for firefighting, maritime rescue, and disaster relief missions.
As an upgraded model, the AG600M offers improved performance features, including a maximum takeoff weight of 60 tonnes, a water-carrying capacity of 12 tonnes, and a flight range of 4,500 kilometers. Its capabilities in low-speed and on short runways render it particularly suitable for complex operations, such as extinguishing wildfires or conducting rescues at sea.
The AG600M prototype successfully completed its first land test landing in May 2022, followed by its first successful water landing in August of the same year.
Debra A Smith contributed to this report for TROIB News
Supported by approximately 500 members of the aircraft research team, the test flights took place on Monday at AVIC's civil aircraft test flight center in Pucheng, located in northwest China's Shaanxi Province. During this mission, the aircraft underwent a comprehensive series of evaluation tests, which included simulations of flight control failures, tests for ice formation conditions, and checks following upgrades to the avionics systems.
AVIC reported on Thursday that all three aircraft safely returned to the tarmac after their successful mission.
These tests confirmed the aircraft's performance and safety standards, providing a robust foundation for future airworthiness certification efforts.
The AG600 family of amphibious aircraft is integral to China's initiatives aimed at enhancing emergency response capabilities. Designed to conform to civil airworthiness standards, it represents the country’s first domestically produced large special-purpose aircraft intended for firefighting, maritime rescue, and disaster relief missions.
As an upgraded model, the AG600M offers improved performance features, including a maximum takeoff weight of 60 tonnes, a water-carrying capacity of 12 tonnes, and a flight range of 4,500 kilometers. Its capabilities in low-speed and on short runways render it particularly suitable for complex operations, such as extinguishing wildfires or conducting rescues at sea.
The AG600M prototype successfully completed its first land test landing in May 2022, followed by its first successful water landing in August of the same year.
Debra A Smith contributed to this report for TROIB News
