AG-600 likely a military transport for PLA in Pacific

Gestart door jurrien visser (JuVi op Twitter), 05/04/2015 | 19:16 uur

Ace1


Ace1

PICTURE: AVIC builds forward fuselage of first AG600 amphibian

AVIC has completed the forward fuselage for the first prototype of the AG600 amphibian aircraft at its Chengdu factory, and expects the type's maiden flight in early 2016.

The forward fuselage section is 9.5m long and includes the cockpit and nose landing gear bay, says AVIC in a statement. It incorporates 5,200 separate parts.

The statement adds that the type received two firm orders at last year's Airshow China in Zhuhai, but it does not specify the customer. A source has said that the first customer is likely to be the nation's coast guard.

At the show, an AVIC representative told Flightglobal that the company does not expect to produce the AG600, previously labelled the TA-600, in large numbers. He also said the first flight would take place at the end of 2015, but it appears the company has backed away from this plan.



The forward fuselage section will be shipped to a China Aviation Industry General Aircraft (CAIGA) factory in Zhuhai, where it will be mated with other key structures. The wings are being produced in Xian, while the fuselage, tail, and other large components are being built in Hanzhong.

The company plans for the type to have a maximum take-off weight (MTOW) of 53,500kg from a paved runway or calm water. For choppy water, the MTOW will be 49,800kg.

Initially, there will be two variants, one optimised for the search and rescue (SAR) mission, the other for fire fighting. In the SAR mission, the AG600 will be able to carry 50 passengers.

In the fire fighting mission, the aircraft will be able to disgorge 12,000kg of water in a range between 12 to 20 seconds.

A Chinese-language publication distributed at the 2014 show suggests that AVIC is also considering missions such as surveillance and cargo.

http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/picture-avic-builds-forward-fuselage-of-first-ag600-410388/

Ace1

Citaat van: Elzenga op 05/04/2015 | 22:26 uur
ja..hoewel de Chinezen druk bezig zijn landingsstrips aan te leggen op verschillende geclaimde eilanden..lijkt dit inderdaad een goede aanvulling..voor zoals je schrijft SF en politie-eenheden. Om snel te kunnen reageren.

The airplane may have strategic value to the Chinese government, according to a recent article in Popular Science. The seaplane could provide a new and efficient way to rapidly deploy or resupply remote island outposts in the disputed South China Sea region.

http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/CAIGA-To-Produce-Biggest-Amphibious-Airplane-222617-1.html

Ace1

Citaat van: Harald op 05/04/2015 | 21:45 uur
Niet geschikt voor de golven van de oceaan, dus geen  doorontwikkeling naar MPA/ASW.
Enigzins een kopie van de Japanse US-2

China heeft al eerder vliegboten gebouwd.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harbin_SH-5

http://www.airvectors.net/avps1.html

http://www.popsci.com/blog-network/eastern-arsenal/china-building-worlds-largest-sea-plane


Elzenga

Citaat van: Thomasen op 05/04/2015 | 21:51 uur
Wel heel geschikt om een SF eenheid of politie peloton op elk willekeurig strand af te kunnen zetten of op te halen. Met die duizenden eilanden daar zeker een nuttige asset.
ja..hoewel de Chinezen druk bezig zijn landingsstrips aan te leggen op verschillende geclaimde eilanden..lijkt dit inderdaad een goede aanvulling..voor zoals je schrijft SF en politie-eenheden. Om snel te kunnen reageren.

dudge

Citaat van: Harald op 05/04/2015 | 21:45 uur
Niet geschikt voor de golven van de oceaan, dus geen  doorontwikkeling naar MPA/ASW.
Enigzins een kopie van de Japanse US-2

Wel heel geschikt om een SF eenheid of politie peloton op elk willekeurig strand af te kunnen zetten of op te halen. Met die duizenden eilanden daar zeker een nuttige asset.

Harald

Niet geschikt voor de golven van de oceaan, dus geen  doorontwikkeling naar MPA/ASW.
Enigzins een kopie van de Japanse US-2


jurrien visser (JuVi op Twitter)

AG-600 likely a military transport for PLA in Pacific

2015-04-05

The AG-600 amphibious flying boat, the largest seaplane in the world designed by the Aviation Industry Corporation of China, can potentially be used for military transport across the Pacific, says analyst Vasily Kashin from Moscow's Center for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies, according to Sputnik News.

The AG-600, set to make its first flight next year, is being developed primarily to extinguish forest fires and carry out maritime humanitarian operations, according to its manufacturer. Kashin said however it is extremely unlike China to devote so much resources and money to design an aircraft purely for firefighting purposes. Kashin said that the AG-600 will likely be unfit for purpose as a search and rescue plane at sea, as it will not stand up to ocean waves.

Kashin said it is also unsuited to long-range maritime patrol missions because most land-based aircraft with sufficient range can do the job better and more efficiently. With its large size, the AG-600 is more likely to be used as long-range transport to transfer cargo and personnel across the vast Pacific region. The People's Liberation Army Navy or Air Force may use it to project Chinese power and influence to the disputed South China Sea and any other region in the Western Pacific, Kashin said.

Zie link voor het plaatje.

http://www.wantchinatimes.com/news-subclass-cnt.aspx?id=20150405000022&cid=1101