China completes massive amphibious aircraft

GUANGZHOU - China has completed production of a massive amphibious aircraft that it plans to use to fight forest fires and perform marine rescue missions.

The AG600 rolled off a production line in the southern city of Zhuhai on Saturday, in what aviation observers see as a milestone for the country.

The aircraft has a maximum take-off weight of 53.5 tonnes and a maximum flight range of 4,500 km, according to state aircraft maker Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC).

The AG600 is by far the world's largest amphibian aircraft, about the size of a Boeing 737, according to AVIC deputy general manager Geng Ruguang.