World's largest amphibious aircraft completes maiden flight in S China

The world's largest amphibious aircraft, AG-600, carried out its maiden flight Sunday morning in Zhuhai, a coastal city in Guangdong province.

An AG-600 piloted by four crew members took off from Jinwan Airport at 9:39 am and remained airborne for about one hour before landing at the same airport.

A congratulatory letter sent by the Communist Party of China's Central Committee and State Council was announced at the maiden flight ceremony, which was attended by Vice-Premier Ma Kai, Guangdong's Party chief Li Xi and hundreds of officials as well as another 3,000 spectators.

Development of the AG-600 was approved by the government in June 2009 and then started at the Aviation Industry Corp of China, the country's leading aircraft maker. Construction for its first prototype began in March 2014 and was completed in July 2016.