China's AG600M firefighting aircraft makes maiden flight

(ECNS) -- China's AG600M, a full-state, new-configuration amphibious firefighting aircraft, had a successful maiden amphibious flight on Monday, according to the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC).

The new-configuration aircraft taxied into the water from an airport in central China's Hubei Province before taking off.

It then landed safely in a water reservoir following an 18-minute flight, said AVIC, the country's leading plane-maker.