Exciting news from the skies! Three AG600M \"Kunlong\" large amphibious aircraft, proudly developed by the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), have successfully completed another round of test flights. This milestone brings them one step closer to airworthiness certification. 🛩️
On Monday, about 500 dedicated members of the aircraft research team launched the mission at the AVIC civil aircraft test flight center in Pucheng, Shaanxi Province. The AG600Ms underwent intense assessments, including flight control failure simulations, ice formation condition tests, and rigorous checks after avionics system upgrades.
All three aircraft safely touched down on the tarmac after the mission, AVIC announced on Thursday. These successful tests confirm the AG600M's performance and safety, laying a strong foundation for future certification processes.
The AG600 family is a key player in China's strategy to enhance its emergency response capabilities. These amphibious aircraft are designed to meet civil airworthiness standards and are the country's first large, homegrown special-purpose aircraft for firefighting, maritime rescue, and disaster relief operations. 🌊🔥
The upgraded AG600M variant shines with impressive features: a maximum takeoff weight of 60 tonnes, a 12-tonne water-carrying capacity, and a flight range of 4,500 kilometers. Its ability to operate at low speeds and from short runways makes it perfect for complex missions like extinguishing wildfires or conducting open-sea rescues.
The AG600M prototype made its first land landing test in May 2022 and achieved its first water landing in August the same year, marking significant progress in its development journey.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
