SoylentNews is people
SoylentNews is powered by your submissions, so send in your scoop. Only 15 submissions in the queue.
SoylentNews
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-42471045
The world's largest amphibious aircraft, China's AG600, has made a successful one-hour maiden flight.
The plane, roughly the size of a Boeing 737 but with four turboprop engines, lifted off from Zhuhai airport in the southern province of Guangdong.
The plane can carry 50 people and can stay airborne for 12 hours.
It has firefighting and marine rescue duties but also military applications, which could be put to use in the disputed South China Sea region. The AG600, codenamed Kunlong, can reach the southernmost edge of China's territorial claims in the area.
State media Xinhua described the plane as "protector spirit of the sea, islands and reefs".
This discussion has been archived.
No new comments can be posted.
World's Largest Amphibious Plane in Production Takes Flight in China
|
Log In/Create an Account
| Top
| 15 comments
| Search Discussion
The Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not responsible for them in any way.
We lie loudest when we lie to ourselves.
-- Eric Hoffer
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday December 26 2017, @01:50AM
This kind of reminds me of old Soviet-style "Communism Marches On!"-style publicity projects.
Except for small aircraft for puddle-jumping to resort islands or hunting lodges, amphibian aircraft are incredibly cost-ineffective dinosaurs.
The might as well be touting the world's biggest steam locomotive or propeller fighter plane.