China’s 2nd AG600 ‘Kunlong’ Amphibious Aircraft, Touted As The World’s Largest, Completes Maiden Flight

Adding teeth to China’s air-marine power, the second of the four AG600 amphibious aircraft took to the sky for its maiden flight in a spectacular maneuver.

Russia Adds More Heavyweight Su-35 Fighters For Ukraine War; Kiev Critiques The Warplane For Poor Survivability

China’s leading aircraft manufacturer, the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), announced that the second AG600M amphibious aircraft prototype finished its first flight test mission on September 10 in Zhuhai City, Guangdong Province, in southern China, CGTN reported.

Designated as Kunlong, the AG600 sizeable amphibious aircraft family is a significant component of China’s emergency-rescue infrastructure. AVIC created it to satisfy the requirements of maritime rescue missions, firefighting missions, and other vital emergency rescue operations.

According to AVIC, the aircraft operated well, and its systems were stable throughout the 22-minute flight. An amphibious aircraft can take off, land on both water and land, and be used for civilian and military purposes.

Although they cannot hover or land vertically, they can compete with helicopters for specialized operations at a much lower cost.

Amphibious planes can move farther and faster than helicopters because the wing of an aircraft is more effective than the lifting rotor of a helicopter.

EurAsian Times reported earlier this year that a new configuration of China’s AG600 big…