Beijing, China – China has completed production of the world’s largest amphibious aircraft, state media has said, the latest effort in the country’s program to wean itself off dependence on foreign aviation firms. Despite a history of delays and problems, China’s aviation industry has made rapid progress in the last year. It is regarded as by far the largest seaplane ever built although it only ever made one flight, in 1947. The state-owned Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) unveiled the first of the new planes, dubbed the AG600, Saturday in the southern port city of Zhuhai, the official Xinhua news agency reported. At around the size of a Boeing 737, it is far larger than any other plane built for marine take off and landing, Xinhua quoted AVIC’s deputy general manager Geng Ruguang as saying.

Source: Manila Bulletin July 24, 2016 04:07 UTC