Article Posted on : - Aug 06, 2010

The final assembly of the Seagull 300 light multi-functional amphibious plane from the production line in Shijiazhuang, capital of north China's Hebei Province. Photo: Xinhua.

BEIJING (BNS): China's first amphibious plane coded ‘Seagull 300’ has started its test flights on Thursday, a media report said.

The plane is designed and built by a Chinese Shijiazhuang Aircraft Industry Co Ltd in Hebei for the private flying market.

The total cost of the indigenously built plane has marked more than 4 million yuan ($600,000).

The plane has the capability to take off both from land and water with a 600-meter long and 50-meter wide runway.

"The Seagull 300 is the first amphibious plane of China that has independent intellectual property rights," China Daily quoted Xiong Xianpeng, as saying.

The dedicated business plane is able to carry four-to-six-passengers and it can also be used for cargo, medical aid or sightseeing flights.

"We already have more than 50 orders of intent," Xia Zhongmin, vice president of Shijiazhuang Aircraft Industry Co Ltd was quoted by the agency, said.

"A Hangzhou-based company has been in touch with us since we started our research and development, and they are expected to confirm their order once the trial flight succeeds," Xia added.

China plans to showcase the official flight of plane by August end. The plane will also take part in an air show in November in Zhuhai, South China's Guangdong province, the report said.