A full-state new-configuration rescue and firefighting mannequin of China’s AG600 massive amphibious plane carried out a profitable roll-out on , based on the Aviation Trade Company of China (AVIC). This new configuration AG600 plane is specifically developed to serve firefighting missions, with a most take-off weight of 60 tonnes and most water-storage capability of as much as 12 tonnes. The brand new firefighting-configuration AG600 plane boasts larger efficiency, bigger water-dropping capability and longer vary, stated the developer. It fills China’s want for a big firefighting plane. It’s put in with a stress cabin, fly-by-wire flight management system, built-in avionics system, and methods for its future firefighting missions.
The AVIC AG600 Kunlong (Kun Dragon) is a big amphibious plane designed by AVIC and assembled by CAIGA. Additional variants could also be developed for maritime surveillance, useful resource detection, passenger and cargo transport. Powered by 4 WJ-6 turboprops, it is without doubt one of the largest flying boats with a 53.5 t (118,000 lb) MTOW. The AG600 was beforehand often called the TA-600; it was designated the Dragon 600 earlier than TA-600. After 5 years of improvement, CAIGA began to construct the plane in August 2014, for a primary flight focused on the time for 2015. After 5 years of improvement, meeting began in August 2014, it was rolled out on 23 July 2016 and it made its first flight from Zhuhai Airport on 24 December 2017; it ought to be licensed in 2021, with deliveries beginning in 2022.
Commercial
It is without doubt one of the three huge airplane initiatives accredited by the State Council of China, with the Xi’an Y-20 army transport and the Comac C919 airliner. The AG600 amphibious plane has a single physique flying boat fuselage, cantilevered excessive wings, 4 WJ-6 turboprops and tricycle retractable touchdown gear. It may function from 1,500 by 200 m (4,920 by 660 ft) stretches of water 2.5 m (8.2 ft) deep, and may be capable of conduct Sea State 3 operations with 2 m (6.6 ft) waves. It was developed for aerial firefighting, gathering 12 t (26,000 lb) of water in 20 seconds and transporting as much as 370 t (820,000 lb) of water on a single tank of gas (31 rotations), and search and rescue, retrieving as much as 50 folks at sea.
Assembled by CAIGA, it’s 39.6 m (129.9 ft) lengthy and has a 38.8 m (127.3 ft) wingspan, its MTOW is 53.5 t (118,000 lb) from paved runways or 48.8 t (108,000 lb) from uneven sea. AVIC claims it’s the largest amphibious plane. It’s heavier than the 41 t (90,000 lb) MTOW Beriev Be-200 or the 47.7 t (105,000 lb) ShinMaywa US-2, however lighter than the prototype-only 86 t (190,000 lb) Beriev A-40. It may entry distant atolls within the South China Sea’s Spratly Islands, claimed by a number of bordering nations, because the South China Sea is subjected to territorial disputes. It may fly in 4 hours from the southern metropolis of Sanya to James Shoal, the southernmost fringe of China’s territorial claims.
