AVIC AG-600 / TA-600

Flying Boat / Amphibious Aircraft

China | 2022

"The Chinese-originated AVIC AG-600 Flying Boat is currently in development and set to become the largest amphibious aircraft in the world when it sees service introduction."

Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 04/08/2020 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site; No A.I. was used in the generation of this content.

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Firepower

Performance

Survivability

Versatility

Impact

In 1986, the Chinese Navy began operations of the Harbin SH-5, a large amphibious aircraft utilized primarily for maritime patrol and over-water Search and Rescue (SAR). The design emerged from work handled in the 1970s but only seven examples were taken on through production spanning from 1984 to 1985. The local Chinese concern of AVIC ("Aviation Industry Corporation of China") is now planning a successor based on the SH-5 as the "TA-600". This development will retain the former's amphibious capabilities and operate in largely the same roles as its Cold War-era predecessor. Beyond these military-minded roles, it is also envisioned that the TA-600 will be capable of firefighting over the vast, hard-to-reach Chinese wilderness - which will make range and water-hauling key qualities in the design. The TA-600 is expected to begin final assembly in 2015 for delivery during 2016 - this is a delay from the original 2014 delivery window.

The TA-600 has its roots in a 2009 initiative and, at this time, the aircraft retained many of the features seen in the original SH-5. Over the years, its silhouette has been slowly revised by way of modified float supports, a more blended, better-contoured cockpit roofline, and a "T-style" tail unit (as opposed to the split vertical tail fins of the SH-5). On the whole, the aircraft has continued use of flying boat basics - high, shoulder-mounted wings, two engines installed at each wing, and a boat-like hull for water landings. Its standard operating crew will be two pilots, a loadmaster, and any required mission specialists (sortie dependent). The hold will also support seating for up to 50 passengers. The resulting aircraft has proven heavier than previously planned at approximately 107,000lb, up from the original 98,000lb. The added weight has altered the expected operational range, reduced from 3,200 miles to 3,100 miles. Dimensions currently include a wingspan of 131.2 feet. Maximum Take-Off Weight (MTOW) is listed at 117,950lb.

Design plans are for all-new, Chinese-made turboprop engines to power the aircraft through constant speed propellers with an output of at least 5,000 horsepower per engine unit. The current selection remains the aged WJ-6 which is nothing more than the Chinese copy of the Soviet Ivchenko AI-20 series.

With China's ever-growing reach into the Pacific, aircraft like the TA-600 will play an ever-increasing role to asserting regional dominance over its neighbors and general instability in one of the most important commercial waterways on the planet.

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July 2016 - The AG-600 was unveiled to onlookers as a static display - this as an international tribunal sided against Chinese claims in the South China Sea.

November 2016 - The AG-600 amphibian was on public display as part of the 11th Zhuhai Air Show.

November 2016 - There are seventeen AG-600 committed to orders. A first-flight is tentatively scheduled for sometime in 2017.

December 2017 - An AG-600 aircraft recorded the series first-flight on December 24th, 2017. It remains under development heading into 2018.

October 2018 - The AG-600 has made its first-flight from water on October 20th, 2018. It flew for 14 minutes near the Jingmen Zhanghe Airport (Hubei). First-deliveries are scheduled for 2022.

April 2020 - The Chinese military has reported the AG-600 is being readied to undertake its first at-sea test flight.

Power & Performance
Those special qualities that separate one aircraft design from another. Performance specifications presented assume optimal operating conditions for the AVIC AG-600 Flying Boat / Amphibious Aircraft.

4 x WJ-6 (Ivchenko AI-20) Turboprop engines developing 5,100 horsepower each and driving 6-blded constant-speed propellers.
Propulsion

311 mph
500 kph | 270 kts
Max Speed

32,808 ft
10,000 m | 6 miles
Service Ceiling

2,796 miles
4,500 km | 2,430 nm
Operational Range

2,100 ft/min
640 m/min
Rate-of-Climb

City-to-City Ranges
Operational range when compared to distances between major cities (in KM).

NYC

LON

PAR

BER

MOS

TOK

SYD

LAX

NYC

Structure
The nose-to-tail, wingtip-to-wingtip physical qualities of the AVIC AG-600 Flying Boat / Amphibious Aircraft.

3
(MANNED)
Crew

121.1 ft
36.90 m
O/A Length

127.3 ft
(38.80 m)
O/A Width

39.7 ft
(12.10 m)
O/A Height

70,548 lb
(32,000 kg)
Empty Weight

117,947 lb
(53,500 kg)
MTOW

Design Balance
The three qualities reflected below are altitude, speed, and range. The more full the box, the more balanced the design.

RANGE

ALT

SPEED

Armament
Available supported armament and special-mission equipment featured in the design of the AVIC AG-600 / TA-600 Flying Boat / Amphibious Aircraft .

Currently none. Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) military models would include depth charges, naval mines, torpedoes, and provision for dropping conventional ordnance.

Variants
Notable series variants as part of the AVIC AG-600 / TA-600 family line.

AG-600 - Base Series Designation

TA-600 - Alternative Designation

Operators
Global customers who have evaluated and/or operated the AVIC AG-600 / TA-600. Nations are displayed by flag, each linked to their respective national aircraft listing.

Total Production: 1 Units
Contractor(s): Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) - China

[ China ]

Relative Max Speed

Hi: 400mph

Lo: 200mph

Aircraft Max Listed Speed (311mph).

Graph Average of 300 MPH.

Era Crossover

Showcasing Aircraft Era Crossover (if any)

Max Alt Visualization

Production Comparison

1

36183

44000

Entry compared against Ilyushin IL-2 (military) and Cessna 172 (civilian) total production.

MACH Regime (Sonic)

Sub

Trans

Super

Hyper

HiHyper

ReEntry

♦

Aviation Timeline

EarlyYrs

WWI

Interwar

WWII

ColdWar

Postwar

Modern

Future

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Mission Roles
Some designs are single-minded in their approach while others offer a more versatile solution to airborne requirements.

ANTI-SUBMARINE WARFARE

ANTI-SHIP

SEARCH & RESCUE

MARITIME / NAVY

COMMERCIAL AVIATION

RECONNAISSANCE

Recognition
Some designs stand the test of time while others are doomed to never advance beyond the drawing board; let history be their judge.

Military lapel ribbon representing modern aircraft

Going Further...
The AVIC AG-600 / TA-600 Flying Boat / Amphibious Aircraft appears in the following collections:

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