First flight of second AG600M prototype

Recently (on 30 August 2022) Scramble reported on the first water take-off and landing of the prototype of Chinese AVIC AG600M ‘Kunlong’ firefighting aircraft, B-ODCC. It made its first flight from water on 29 August 2022.

Now, already within a month, the second prototype of this latest Chinese general purpose amphibian made its first flight on 10 September.

The aircraft, registered B-OHEH, took off from one of the concrete runways of the airport near the China Aircraft Industry Corporation in Guangdong province. The flight of prototype B-OHEH lasted for 22 minutes. The China Aircraft Industry Corporation announced that the aircraft showed good performance during the test. All systems worked without failures and malfunctions.

This is not the end of the AG600M tests. In the near future, the corporation plans to conduct an additional series of flight tests that will test the water intake and discharge capabilities. The third test will be held in late fall and the fourth, which is likely to be the last, is scheduled for early 2023.

The AG600M will be on the market in 2025. However, the amphibious aircraft is expected to be used in firefighting missions as early as 2023.

Source: Asian Times