Fuselage of world's largest amphibious aircraft AVIC TA-600 / AG600 completed

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World Aviation Defense & Security Industry News - China
 
 
Fuselage of world's largest amphibious aircraft AVIC TA-600 / AG600 completed
 
AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China) has completed the forward fuselage for the first prototype of the TA-600 / AG600 amphibious aircraft at its Chengdu factory, and expects the plane will make its first flight in early 2016.
     
Fuselage of world's largest amphibious aircraft AVIC TA-600 / AG600 completed
Fuselage of the AVIC TA-600 / AG-600 was unveiled during a ceremony (Photo: AVIC)
     

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 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 TA-600 / AG-600 is reportedly the largest amphibious aircraft currently being built. It has been announced that the aircraft will have a maximum takeoff weight of 53.5 t (53,500 kg; 118,000 lb) and a maximum range of over 5,000 km (3,100 mi). The aircraft will have a wingspan of 40 metres (130 ft) and will be powered by four turboprop engines.

AVIC states that the aircraft will be suitable for aerial firefighting and search and rescue (SAR) operations. Sources also note that that the aircraft could also have strategic value in the South China Sea, which has been subject to various territorial disputes.