AVIC AG600 Kunlong: Price, Specs, & Details. AG600 (TA-600) is the largest amphibious aircraft in the world that is being developed by Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC). This aircraft is available in fire, search and water rescue variants. AVIC also plans to develop other aircraft variants including maritime surveillance, passengers, cargo, and tourism. The aircraft’s main mission will include search and rescue operations and air firefighters.
The development of the AG600 aircraft has been carried out since 2009 by a group of 70 aircraft component manufacturers and a research team working with more than 150 institutions in 20 provinces and cities in China. The AG600 prototype aircraft was first introduced in July 2016 at a production facility located in Zhuhai in Guangdong Province, South China. The first AG600 flight will take place on December 24, 2017 and will be expected to start operating in 2022.
AVIC AG600 Engine and Performance
The AG600 amphibious aircraft is powered by four WJ-6 turboprop engines to drive four six-bladed propellers. The WJ-6 engine is a Chinese-made machine developed based on the Ivchenko AI-20 engine. The engine is capable of producing an output power of 3,805 kW (5,103 hp).
The AG600 aircraft can fly with a maximum speed of 560 km/ h, and a cruising speed of 500 km/ h. This amphibious aircraft has a maximum range of 4,500 km and a service ceiling of 6,000 m, while the minimum level of flight height is 50 m.
The AG600 seaplane can take off and land in adverse weather conditions with a wave height of 2 m. The maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) of an aircraft on a runway is 53.5 t and 49 t above water.
AVIC AG600 Specs
The AG600 amphibious aircraft are designed to carry out various missions, both on land and at sea. This seaplane have a boat-type fuselage design with one hull that integrates a high-mounted cantilevered wing, a T-tail wing and a tricycle landing gear. Overall, the AG600 has an overall length of 36.9 m, a height of 12.1 m, and a wingspan of 38.8 m.
The AG600 amphibious aircraft can take off and land from bodies of water as high as 1,500 m, 200 m wide and 2.5 m. It has the capacity to collect 12 t of water in 20 seconds and can carry up to 370 t of water in one fuel tank.
This seaplane can evacuate up to 50 people in a search and rescue mission (SAR) on the water. This can be equipped with special equipment for conducting maritime surveillance, resource detection, and passenger and cargo transportation missions.
AVIC AG600 Price and Orders
Until now there has been no official information from AVIC related to AG600 amphibious aircraft prices. Since it was first introduced, AVIC has received orders from the Chinese Government of 17 aircraft for domestic use, but is expected to order more than 50 additional aircraft in the near future. Archipelagic countries including New Zealand and Malaysia have also shown interest in the AG-600. Until now the company has not received export orders from foreign customers.
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