China's independently-developed AG600 large amphibious aircraft has recently passed two tests on its ability to withstand high-temperatures, marking another step forward for the aircraft to obtain the certification for performing firefighting tasks, according to the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), the developer of the model.
The two tests, one on cooling and ventilation, and the other on overheat detection and ambient temperature measuring, are to see whether the operating temperature of devices in the aircraft's engine nacelle meets the equipment temperature limit requirements under high temperature and maximum engine power conditions.
The AG600 is the first large special purpose aircraft developed by China to meet the urgent needs of forest firefighting and water rescue capabilities.
It can collect 12 tons of water in 20 seconds during forest firefighting operations and make multiple round trips between the water source and the fire scene to put out the fire.
During water rescue missions, the aircraft can cruise as low as 50 meters above the water surface and anchor on water to conduct rescue tasks, with the capacity of evacuating 50 people at one time.
China's AG600 amphibious aircraft passes firefighting function tests
More than 16 million residents in China's capital city Beijing have benefited from water diverted by the South-to-North Water Diversion Project.
Currently, the project has transferred over 10.6 billion cubic meters of water to Beijing, effectively alleviating the water shortage in the mega city.
Through the project, water from the Danjiangkou Reservoir in central China's Hubei Province, a major source for the project, flows to Beijing over a distance of more than 1,200 km.
Upon arrival, the water first enters Beijing's Daning pressure regulating pool, with a flow rate of 50 cubic meters per second. After the pool adjusts the pressure to a suitable level, the water is then distributed to different parts of the city.
"This enables Beijing to supply more water, with a daily amount of 5 million cubic meters. The water is distributed throughout the city via our Daning pressure regulating pool," said Lin Xiong, head of the Fangshan office under the Beijing South-to-North Water Diversion Management Office.
The project's central route, the most prominent one, begins at the Danjiangkou Reservoir and runs through Henan and Hebei before reaching Beijing and Tianjin.
Since the route began operations in 2014, Beijing has built an underground water supply loop stretching 107 km to distribute water across the city.
"Our diverting pipeline channels water from the South-to-North Water Diversion main line to the Third Water Plant. The plant mainly serves three districts, including Haidian, Dongcheng, and Xicheng, benefiting around 3 million people, with a daily water supply of 210,000 cubic meters," said Li Meiting, deputy director of the Beijing management office.
China's mega water diversion project benefits 16 mln Beijing residents
