China's world's largest seaplane passes its toughest test yet

The AG600 Kunlong amphibious aircraft passed the minimum takeoff speed test during an evaluation conducted in northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Aviation Industry Corporation of China (Avic) said over the weekend. The test is crucial in determining the aircraft's safe takeoff and landing speeds.

Avic said passing the test laid a solid foundation for further safe flight tests and the aviation safety certification of the world's largest "residential" aircraft.

“This means that the highest-risk tests for the AG600 aircraft, including the flight shake test (to demonstrate the structural strength and stability of the aircraft against shake) and the minimum manoeuvring speed in the air, have all been passed,” the company said.

The AG600 is an amphibious aircraft designed for maritime patrol and search and rescue operations. Roughly the size of a Boeing 737, the AG600 is the world's largest amphibious aircraft, surpassing Japan's ShinMaywa US-2 and Russia's Beriev Be-200.

Aviation expert Zhang Zhonglin said that seaplanes have now largely been replaced by helicopters and boats in sea rescue missions, but they are still extremely useful in some situations.

For example, in reefs and small islands in the South China Sea without airports, the AG600's ability to take off and land on water allows the aircraft to easily carry people and cargo, Mr. Zhang said.

The AG600 is 37 meters long, as large as a Boeing 737, and has a wingspan of 38.8 meters. The seaplane has a maximum take-off weight of 53.5 tons and can fly continuously for about 4,500 kilometers.

The AG600's chief designer, Huang Lingcai, said the aircraft can travel 10 times faster than a rescue boat. It can also perform emergency operations in 2-meter-high waves and rescue 50 people in distress at a time.

The AG600 also plays a vital role in fighting forest fires. The giant seaplane can load 12 tons of water in 20 seconds to spray a surface of 4,000 square meters in one firefighting session.

Video of AG600 seaplane testing on water and land. (Source: SCMP)

The AG600 is China's second "amphibious" aircraft after the SH-5, which was developed for military purposes in the 1970s and retired in 2015.

Development of the AG600 began in 2014. The AG600 prototype completed its first flight in 2017, took off for the first time from a reservoir in 2018, and flew over the sea in 2020.

Flight tests of the aircraft are set to begin in 2024. If all goes according to plan, the aircraft is expected to receive type certification by the end of this year, according to Huang.

The AG600 entered mass production and was fully assembled in July.

The amphibious aircraft represents China's ambitious efforts to become a major force in global aviation. The AG600 is one of three large aircraft developed by China itself, along with the Y-20 strategic transport aircraft and the C919 narrow-body jet - both of which are in service.

Hua Yu (Source: SCMP)

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