It’s a sea monster! China unveils world's largest amphibious aircraft used to fight forest fires and perform marine rescues

The aircraft, dubbed the AG600, is around the size of a Boeing 737 - far larger than any other amphibious plane
It has a maximum flight range of 2,800 miles and can collect 12 tonnes of water in 20 seconds during emergencies
State-owned Aviation Industry Corporation of China unveiled new plane on Saturday in southern port city of Zhuhai
Before the AG600, the largest amphibious cast was the H-4 Hercules, known as the Spruce Goose, used in WW2[CN]

该飞机仿自AG600，大小与波音737客机相仿 – 比其他两栖飞机都要大得多 - 它的最大飞行路程为2,800英里。紧急情况下，该飞机可在20秒内积蓄12公吨的水量。中国国有航空工业总公司周六在珠海南部港海城市揭露了新飞机面纱。在AG600之前，最大的两栖运输机为休斯H-4大力神，别名为云杉之鹤，曾在二战中使用。

Monstrous: The aircraft, dubbed the AG600, is around the size of a Boeing 737, far larger than any other plane built for marine take off and landing[CN]

大到没谱：该飞机仿自AG600，大小与波音737客机相仿，比任一架能起飞降落的两栖机都要大。

Majestic: It has a maximum flight range of 2,800 miles and can collect 12 tonnes of water in 20 seconds. It has a maximum take-off weight of 53.5 tonnes[CN]

何其壮观：它的最大飞行路程为2,800英里，可在20秒内积蓄12公吨的水量。它的最大起飞总重达到53.5公吨。

Excitement: People gathered for the great unveiling. The production is the latest effort in the country's program to wean itself off dependence on foreign aviation firms
[CN]

兴奋异常：人们共聚一堂共看伟大的揭幕仪式。该飞机的制造是中国国家项目致力摆脱外国航空公司依赖性的最新成果。

Before the AG600, the largest amphibious cast was the H-4 Hercules, known as the Spruce Goose, which was designed in the 1940s to carry Allied troops into battle[CN]

在AG600之前，最大的两栖运输机为休斯H-4大力神，别名为云杉之鹤，设计于20世纪40年代，用来运输军队投入战争。

China is seeking to develop its own aviation sector to reduce dependence on and even challenge foreign giants, such as European consortium Airbus and Boeing of the United States

China has completed production of the world's largest amphibious aircraft which will be used to fight forest fires and perform marine rescues. 

The aircraft, dubbed the AG600, is around the size of a Boeing 737 - far larger than any other plane built to take off and land on water.

It has a maximum flight range of 2,800 miles and can collect 12 tonnes of water in 20 seconds. Its maximum take-off weight of 53.5 tonnes. 

The state-owned Aviation Industry Corporation of China unveiled the first of the new planes on Saturday in the southern port city of Zhuhai.

The production is the latest effort in the country's program to wean itself off dependence on foreign aviation firms.

Before the AG600, the largest amphibious cast was the H-4 Hercules, known as the Spruce Goose, which was designed in the 1940s to carry Allied troops into battle. 

It is regarded as by far the largest seaplane ever built although it only ever made one flight in 1947. Its wingspan is still longer than the AG600's.

The Chinese plane, which is targeted at the domestic market, will be 'very useful in developing and exploiting marine resources,' local media reported, adding that it could be used for 'environmental monitoring, resource detection and transportation'.

AVIC deputy general manager, Geng Rugang, said the plane was 'the latest breakthrough in China's aviation industry.' A plan for the development and production of the AG600 received government approval in 2009. 

Beijing is currently locked in disputes with several of its neighbours, including Japan, Vietnam and the Philippines, over the rights to develop economic resources in waters off its shores.

The AG600 could potentially extend the Asian giant's ability to conduct a variety of operations in the South China Sea, where it has built a series of artificial islands featuring air strips, among other infrastructure with the potential for either civilian or military use. AVIC has received 17 orders for the plane so far.

China is seeking to develop its own aviation sector to reduce dependence on and even challenge foreign giants, such as European consortium Airbus and Boeing of the United States, though analysts say it could take years.

Despite a history of delays and problems, China's aviation industry has made rapid progress in the last year.

In June, the Chinese-made ARJ21 - which stands for Advanced Regional Jet for the 21st century - made its first commercial flight, when Chengdu Airlines flew one from its home base to Shanghai, and the country's military began using its homegrown Y-20 heavy transport plane earlier this month.

It rolled out the C919, China's first domestically developed narrow-body passenger plane, in November last year.