AIRBORNE FIREFIGHTER

China's second homegrown firefighting amphibious aircraft, the AG600M, made its maiden flight from land in Zhuhai, South China's Guangdong province, on Sept 10, which marked Mid-Autumn Festival this year.

Piloted by a four-member crew, the plane took off from Zhuhai Jinwan Airport at 9:36 am, flew for about 22 minutes and landed back at the airport. The aircraft will undergo follow-up test flights. Meanwhile, the other AG600M seaplane taxied on a reservoir from Jingmen Zhanghe Airport in Central China's Hubei province at 9:38 am before taking off.

According to the Aviation Industry Corp of China, another two AG600M seaplanes will be manufactured. It is expected that the third one will make its maiden flight in November and the fourth early next year.