Last Saturday, the second AG600M Kunlong, a Chinese-made amphibious seaplane, completed its maiden test flight over the city of Zhuhai, in southern China’s Guangdong province, according to the state-owned China Aviation Industry Corporation (AVIC), the country’s leading aircraft manufacturer.
It is the largest variant of the AG600 family of aircraft. Conceived as an essential part of the national emergency rescue system, the model was developed to support firefighting missions, maritime rescue and other emergency operations in critical situations. China will produce a total of four airplanes.
Together with the Xian Y-20 military transport aircraft, currently under development, and the C919 single-aisle airliner, it is part of China’s project to have an independently developed «large aircraft family».
As reported by its manufacturer, the aircraft performed well and all its systems operated stably during the entire 22-minute flight. Soon, the process will continue with water pick-up and drop tests, a key task in aerial firefighting.
The third and fourth AG600Ms are expected to perform their first flight tests this November this year and in early 2023. The first prototype of the model had made its first take-off from land last 31 May and completed its first take-off from a water body on 30 August.
Key features
The AG600M can collect up to twelve tonnes of water (at an interval of 12 to 20 seconds) from natural water bodies, transport it to the site of a fire and drop it there. Its maximum take-off weight (MTOW) is 53.500 kilograms. It has a range of up to 5.500 kilometres and a maximum speed of 570 kilometres per hour.
It is designed to operate in complex weather and environmental conditions. In rescue missions, it can perform low-altitude searches and anchor to complete water rescue operations. In addition, it is capable of rescuing up to fifty people per mission.
The aircraft is expected to be available for firefighting missions from 2023 and to enter the market in 2025, according to AVIC.
See also: COMAC C919: Chinese rival to Airbus and Boeing in the single-aisle segment, closer to take off
