China to build world's largest amphibious aircraft

China will build the world's largest amphibious aircraft, as large as an Airbus A320. The illustration is NOT of the Dragon to be but rather of a Bombardier 415MP, which is made in Canada. But that is the direction this project is heading.

Hu Haiyin, deputy general manager of AVIC General Aircraft Company, said the development and production of the Dragon 600, intended to be the world's largest amphibious aircraft, has received government approval and research has already started.

The Dragon 600 could be used for tasks such as emergency rescue, fighting forest fires and sea patrols.

Hu Haiyin said that market research indicated that 60 such aircraft would be needed in China in the next 15 years.

The Times of India reported that the research and design stage would last for four years, with commercial production to begin in about five years.