Test-flight time for China’s latest, largest amphibious plane prototype
- The AG600, which can ‘ski’ on water, will be able to cover the entire South China Sea and could meet an urgent need for an emergency rescue aircraft
- The prototype includes advances from its predecessor the Kunlong, although like other Chinese-developed planes it has an outdated engine
The four engines of the AG600-1003 prototype were tested on Tuesday, paving the way for test flights, according to its developer, China Aviation Industry General Aircraft. Its assembly was completed in December.
“The AG600 aircraft has completed more than 100 hours of scientific test flights, accumulating and acquiring a large amount of flight test data,” the developer said on social media.
“The research team improved the key design theories, methods and verifications such as in aerodynamics and hydrodynamics for the amphibious aircraft and made further breakthroughs in the key technologies of amphibious aircraft design.”
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China adds world’s largest amphibious airplane to its maritime arsenal
China’s latest five-year plan, covering 2021 to 2025, identified the AG600 as a key programme because of the country’s urgent need for an emergency rescue aircraft, and especially the strategic requirement for equipment that can serve its far-reaching bases in the South China Sea.