A brand new-configuration prototype mannequin of China’s AG600 giant amphibious plane performed a profitable maiden flight on Tuesday. This new-configuration AG600 amphibious plane took off from the Zhuhai Jinwan Airport in south China’s Guangdong Province at 10:55 a.m., after which safely landed on the airport after a 20-minute flight, stated , based on the Aviation Business Company of China (AVIC). Throughout the maiden flight, it additionally performed a number of flight check missions, together with fixed velocity climbing, lowering velocity in degree flight and a simulated go-around. AG600 plane remained in good situation all through the flight, with the management system working properly and all methods working stably.
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. It fills China’s want for a big firefighting plane. The profitable maiden flight of the full-state new-configuration mannequin marked a brand new part for the AG600 undertaking and a significant breakthrough in growing the firefighting practical mannequin of the big amphibious plane, stated the AVIC. 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 brand new firefighting-configuration AG600 plane boasts greater efficiency, bigger water-dropping capability and longer vary.
Commercial
The AVIC AG600 Kunlong (Kun Dragon) is a big amphibious plane designed by AVIC and assembled by CAIGA. Powered by 4 WJ-6 turboprops, it is likely one of the largest flying boats with a 53.5 t (118,000 lb) MTOW. After 5 years of growth, 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. The AG600, along with the Y-20 giant transporter and the C919 single-aisle passenger airplane, is a part of China’s key undertaking to independently develop a “giant plane household.” Codenamed Kunlong, the AG600 is a key piece of aeronautical tools in China’s emergency-rescue system (firefighting and marine rescue missions).
AVIC claims it’s the largest amphibious plane.[6] 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. Earlier seaplanes have been heavier, because the 75 t (165,000 lb) Martin JRM Mars or the prototypes 100 t (220,000 lb) Blohm & Voss BV 238, 156 t (345,000 lb) Saunders-Roe Princess or 180 t (400,000 lb) Hughes H-4 Hercules. It might 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 possibly fly in 4 hours from the southern metropolis of Sanya to James Shoal, the southernmost fringe of China’s territorial claims.
