The first flight of China's first self-developed light amphibious aircraft, the HO300, succeeded early Wednesday in a north China city.

The HO300 took off at 10:18 AM in Shijiazhuang, capital of north China's Hebei Province, and landed 15 minutes later.

The HO300, a multi-use amphibious aircraft, was developed by the General Aircraft Co., Ltd. of the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), after three years of efforts, said Meng Xiangkai, manager of the company.

The 8.9-meter-long and 12.46-meter-wide airplane with a cruising speed of 231 kilometers per hour can land on both land and water, including lakes, reservoirs and seas, and can take off on plateaus at altitudes below 3,500 meters.

The HO300, designed as a passenger plane, can carry four to six passengers and take off with loads of 1,680 kilograms. Its maximum flight range can reach 1,300 kilometers.

The aircraft is expected to be used for business flights, general traveling, transporting, patrolling, searching, environmental monitoring, as well as other uses.

"The success of the HO300 is an important step for experimental aircraft to be commercialized," Meng Xiangkai said.

The HO300 is expected to reach the market in 2011, Meng said.

(Xinhua News Agency November 11, 2010)