World's largest seaplane built by China to make maiden
flight in first half of 2017
China first unveiled the aircraft, AG600, in
July last year.
By Nandini Krishnamoorthy
February 15, 2017 11:05 GMT
The world's largest amphibious aircraft built by China is
all set to make its maiden flight in the first half of 2017 after its four
engines successfully passed a series of rigorous tests, state media has
reported on Wednesday (15 February).
The massive China-made seaplane, dubbed the AG600, is
rolled out by state-owned Aviation Industry Corporation of China (Avic). It
took the company almost eight years to develop it and said it would be useful
in fighting forest fires and embarking on rescue missions.
China first unveiled the aircraft in July last year and it
is thought to be part of Beijing's efforts in minimising its dependence on
foreign goods in crucial sectors.
Avic said the AG600 is 37metres long with a wingspan of
38.8metres and is so far, the largest plane with marine landing and take-off
capability. It is reported to be nearly the size of a Boeing 737.
However, its wingspan is said to be considerably smaller
when compared
to the H-4 Hercules - also known as Spruce Goose – that was designed
in the 1940s. It was regarded as by far the largest seaplane ever built and it
was meant to carry allied troops into battle. However, H-4 Hercules reportedly
made only one flight, in 1947.
According to Xinhua news agency, the aircraft has a maximum take-off
weight of 53.5 tonnes and flight range of up to 4,500 kms. It can also
reportedly collect 12 tonnes of water in 20 seconds, besides having the
capacity to rescue up to 50 people far offshore.
Avic's deputy general manager, Geng Rugang, said earlier
in July that the aircraft is the "latest breakthrough in China's aviation
industry".
Its chief designer Huang Lingcai said that the AG600 is
"like a ship that can fly, with advanced gas-water dynamic engineering and
underwater corrosion resistance technology".
After completing its production in July, Avic displayed
AG600 at China's biggest meeting of aircraft makers and buyers in November. The
seaplane reportedly received 17 expressions of interest.
The communist country also showed off its Chengdu J-20
stealth fighter in public for the first time during the air show in November.
In June last year, Beijing
also rolled out the C919, its first domestically developed narrow-body
passenger plane.
The launch of this aircraft is said to rattle nerves in
the Asia-Pacific region and in the US, especially since China has been keen in
adopting a more muscular approach to territorial disputes in the South and East
China Seas. The AG600 is speculated to potentially extend China's ability to conduct a variety of operations in
the contested waterways.
Original post: ibtimes.co.uk
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