China begins trial production of world's largest amphibious

Trial production of the TA600 amphibious aircraft, intended to be the world's largest, has started in China and is expected to undertake its maiden flight next year, a company executive said today.
The aircraft, with a maximum takeoff weight of 53.5 tons and a maximum range of more than 5,000 km is larger than a Boeing 737 and could be used for fire fighting and air-sea rescue, Fu Junxu, general manager of China Aviation Industry General Aircraft Co. Ltd's Zhuhai branch said.
China began developing the aircraft five years ago, state-run Xinhua news agency quoted a company executive today.
The trial production started following completion of the design process, he said.

Its maiden flight is expected to happen in late 2015, Fu said.
"After a period of trial flights, the aircraft will be put onto the market," he said.
Upon completion, it will replace Japan's Shin Maywa US-2 aircraft as the largest amphibious aircraft in the world.