AVIC expected to deliver 60 AG600 amphibious aircraft in 15 years. The AVIC TA-600, also known as AG-600, is a large amphibious flying boat that is being designed and built in China by the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC).

The AVIC TA-600 is set to become the largest amphibious aircraft in the world when it begins delivery in 2016.

The forward fuselage section is 9.5m long and includes the cockpit and nose landing gear bay, says AVIC in a statement. It incorporates 5,200 separate parts.

The statement adds that the type received two firm orders at last year’s Airshow China in Zhuhai, but it does not specify the customer. A source has said that the first customer is likely to be the nation’s coast guard.

At the show, an AVIC representative told Flightglobal that the company does not expect to produce the AG600, previously labelled the TA-600, in large numbers. He also said the first flight would take place at the end of 2015, but it appears the company has backed away from this plan.