China is about to use the world's largest seaplane

will be delivered to customers within the next 4 years according to Chinese manufacturers.

The AG600 seaplane model has a 39-meter wingspan, equivalent to the length of a blue whale, designed to carry out sea rescue and extinguish forest fires, the South China Morning Post reported on May 14. As expected, the aircraft produced by China up to 98% of components will reach 17 customers in 2022.

AG600 hovercraft in one test flight.

"We are trying to get certification from the civil aviation agency in 2021 and deliver the aircraft to customers in 2022" , Xinhua quoted Huang Lingcai, chief engineer in the AG600 manufacturing project of Industry Group. Chinese aviation (AVIC).

took off for the first time in Zhuhai, Guangdong last December and landed after about an hour's flight. According to Lingcai, the aircraft will fly more this year, including the first takeoff from the water. AVIC spent about 8 years developing a large horizontal plane Boeing 737.

Equipped with four turboprop engines, the AG600 can carry 50 people in search and rescue missions at sea and can carry 12 tons of water up to 20 seconds to extinguish the fire. AG600 has a range of 4,500 km and can land on a two-meter high wave.

AG600 flew for the first time in December last year.(Video: CCTV +).