Trial production of the TA600 amphibious aircraft, intended to be the world’s largest, has started in China and is expected to undertake its maiden flight next year, a company executive said on Sunday.
The aircraft, with a maximum takeoff weight of 53.5 tons and a maximum range of more than 5,000 km is larger than a Boeing 737 and could be used for fire fighting and air-sea rescue, Fu Junxu, general manager of China Aviation Industry General Aircraft Co. ltd’s Zhuhai branch said.
China began developing the aircraft five years ago, state-run Xinhua news agency quoted a company executive. The trial production started following completion of the design process, he said. Its maiden flight is expected to happen in late 2015, Fu said. “After a period of trial flights, the aircraft will be put onto the market,” he said.