After delays due to COVID-19, the AG600 ‘Kunlong’, which is largest seaplane in the world, has made it’s maiden sea-based flight during a successful trial. 

During a voyage that lasted approximately 31 minutes, the seaplane lifted off from the Yellow Sea near the city of Qingdao in Shandong province on July 26th. This is the first plane of it’s kind that China has produced. 

It measures 37m long with a wingspan of 39m, which is roughly the size of a Boeing 737 and it can carry up to 50 passengers. 

According to the South China Morning Post, the aircraft will be used to aid China’s forest firefighting and natural disaster relief activities. If it is assigned to fight forest fires, the AG600 has the capability to diminish blazes over an area of around 4,000 square meters and can collect 12t of water from a lake or sea in 20 seconds.

Additionally, with it’s ability to take off and land in 2m-high waves, it can perform maritime search-and-rescue operations.

“The successful sea trial marks another crucial step in the development of the project,” said Luo Ronghuai, general manager of the Aviation Industry Corporation of China.