World's largest amphibious aircraft

[xhw1986]

The JL-600 (Jiaolong-600 / Dragon 600) Amphibious Aircraft designed by China Aviation Industry Corporation I (AVIC). The JL-600 is powered by four-turbine propeller and it will allow PLANAF direct logistics and personnel support missions to distant South China Sea outposts.

AVIC General Aircraft Company disclosed on 24 June 2009 that the project to produce the world's largest amphibious airplane "Jiaolong-600" had already been approved, and its research and development has officially started. "Jiaolong-600," a single-hull comprehensive rescue airplane with a four-turbine propeller, is similar in size to the Airbus A320. It will become the world's largest amphibious airplane. The airplane's maximum take-off weight is 60 tons. It can take off and land on both ground and water. AVIC will use Zhuhai for part of the production of the Jiaolong-600.

In the civil aviation sector, "Jiaolong-600" has a strong capacity to carry out various special tasks including emergency rescue, forest firefighting and sea surveillance, and therefore it has great market potential. The 'Dragon 600' will be used for tasks such as emergency rescue and fighting forest fires. It will be able to take off on land or water and is expected to hold about 3,000 gallons of water or up to 50 passengers. Supposedly, it will be able to take off with waves up to three meters high. Its maximum speed will be about 348 mph and a range of of 3,200 miles. It will be a "scooper" and can be refilled in 20 seconds while skimming along on the surface of a lake.

It is a replacement for the Shui Yung 5, the 30 year old aircraft, of which only five were actually built. Four of them were delivered to the PLA Navy in the North Sea Fleet. The fifth aircraft in that fleet was actually sent off to do other civilian tasks, like emergency rescue and firefighting. The Shui Yung 5 was a poorly performing aircraft - it was underpowered. The Beriev A-40, officially in development, and currently existing in the form of a couple of flying prototypes, has a take off weight over 85 tons. It is the largest amphibian in the world now.

Hu Haiyin, deputy general manager of the company, said that market research indicated a domestic market for 60 such craft in the next 15 years. A first flight is planned in 2013 and entering production in 2015.

The aircraft can also be used for ocean area surveillance. The JL-600 could perform rapid direct logistics and personnel support missions to distant South China Sea outposts that are usually surrounded by shallow waters. This requirement would increase should China expand number and size of its island outposts. The JL-600 could also perform long-range patrol, anti-submarine, anti-ship and mine-laying missions.

Jiaolong-600 / Dragon 600

 

[acetophenol]

Nice going,how far has the development reached?

 

[qwerrty]

this guy is the biggest in service. there were others much bigger in the soviet days

 

[cirr]

Nice going,how far has the development reached?

Maiden flight this year.

 

[qinglong-china]

Oh, The world is almost transparent。

 

[Deino]

2014年12月29日，大型灭火/水上救援水陆两栖飞机AG600（蛟龙600）首个大部件中机身在中航飞机西安分公司下架，标志着AG600的试制工作取得重要阶段性成果。
作为“十二五”期间中航工业通飞研制的标志性产品， “蛟龙”AG600是当今世界上最大的一款在研的水陆两栖飞机，可满足我国森林灭火和水上救援的迫切需要，可作为国家航空应急救援体系建设而增加的一款所需装备。
“蛟龙”AG600飞机按“水陆两栖、一机多型、系列发展”的设计思想进行设计，既能在陆地上起降，又能在水面上起降，起飞重量53.5吨，20秒内可一次汲水12吨，水面起降抗浪高度达到2米。具有执行森林灭火、水上救援等多项任务能力，可根据用户的需要加改装必要的设备，满足执行海洋环境监测、资源探测、客货运输等任务的需要。
目前，AG600已完成全部设计工作，零部件制造工作全面展开，预计2015年底实现首飞。

via BING-translator ....

On December 29, 2014, largefire/waterrescueamphibiousaircraftAG600 (Dragon600)in the firstpart of the fuselageundertheAVICaircraftXianbranch,marked the developmentofAG600 madean importantinitialresults.

As a "Twelve-Five"developedbyAVICthroughflyingduring the iconicproducts,"Dragon"AG600 isoneof the largest in the worldat the opening of theamphibiousaircraft,tomeetour country'sforestfire fightingandtheurgentneed for waterrescue,can beused as a nationalemergencyrescuesystem for Aeronauticsincreasedequipmentrequirementsofabuilding.
"JiaolongAG600"amphibious,onemachinetype,seriesdevelopment"designideaofdesign,bothattake off and landingonland,andcantake off and landon the water, a takeoffweight of 53.5tons,20secondsin the water12tonsat a time,taking off and landingsurfaceanti-waveheightup to 2m.Implementation of forestfire-fighting,waterrescueandmanyothertasks,according to user'sneed to retrofit the necessaryequipmenttomeetimplementation of marineenvironmentalmonitoring,resourceexploration,taskssuch aspassenger and cargotransportneeds.
At present,AG600 hascompletedalldesignwork,partsmanufacturingwork in fullswing, and predictby2015 to achieveflight.