China’s home-made amphibious aircraft AG600, the world’s largest such plane, makes its official debut in Zhuhai.

The aircraft, with a maximum takeoff weight of 53.5 tonnes and a maximum range of more than 5,000 kilometers, can absorb 12 tonnes of water within 20 seconds, which is ideal for performing multiple operations including forest fire fighting, over-water Search and Rescue, marine environment monitoring, resource exploration, passenger and freight transportation and other operating tasks.

Its amphibious function makes it possible to take off from both land and water, rescuing 50 people at most on water at one time.

Workers are currently assembling the fuselage of the world’s largest amphibious aircraft. The AVIC General Aircraft Company has won 17 orders for the amphibious aircraft AG600, including two at 2014 Zhuhai Air Show.