Thursday, June 25, 2009

China to build world's largest amphibious aircraft

There is no reason to get excited; it is just a larger version of the old SH-5: a seaplane that has a production run of only 4 copies. I found it odd that AVIC calls the Dragon 600 project a "commercial production." Oh my!! Is that a large Magnetic Anomaly Detection (MAD) Sensor in your tail or are you just happy to see me?!




JL (Dragon) 600


SH-5



China to build world's largest amphibious aircraft
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-06-25 16:48

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/bizchina/2009-06/25/content_8323684.htm

The development and production of the Dragon 600, intended to be the world's largest amphibious aircraft, has received government approval, AVIC General Aircraft Company Ltd said Wednesday.


The Dragon 600, which would be as large as an Airbus 320, could be used for tasks such as emergency rescue, fighting forest fires and sea patrols, said Hu Haiyin, deputy general manager of the company.

Hu said that market research indicated a domestic market for 60 such craft in the next 15 years.

The research and design stage would last for four years, with commercial production to begin in at least five years, Hu said.

The company's facilities are southwest of the Zhuhai airport. The first construction phase is scheduled for completion in 2012 and the company plans to have 1,500 employees.



13 comments:

Anonymous said...

Seriously, can they at least design something nicer to look at although i know military equipment doesn't have to be that elegant looking.

Coatepeque said...

I prefer the look of the Caspian Sea Monster

Anonymous said...

what about the "Spruce Goose"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hughes_H-4_Hercules

Anonymous said...

Maybe they can use it also as a huge military transport or a long range maritime patrol aircraft. It is much larger than the Y-8 and even the Y-9. In any case it is a huge waste of money to develop an aircraft that will have a production run of only about half a dozen.

Rocky said...

I chanced upon to view your blog and found it very interesting. Great ... Keep it up!

Coatepeque said...

-- Thanks Rocky.


-- The only real application I can see is running supply to South China Sea Garrisons. If they want to increase the size and number of their outposts, then, they would need a largest logistic train. A large sea plane makes sense.


-- I saw the Goose in person few years back, that bird is fat and HUGE.

Anonymous said...

If it has any military application, the South China Sea could be the only logical place where such an aircraft could be employed. That would appear to be consistent with their diplomatic and maritime capability development priorities.

Aircraft Charters said...

Yes, you are right that SH-5 is very big airbus and for tells about Dragon 600.

Unknown said...

Dragon 600 can be used as follows:-

i) putting out wild fires - fire
control
ii) search and rescue in sea
iii) maritime patrol
iv) logistic support
v) tourism related activities

duko smith said...

Oh! how big it.........
I wish to fly in the same kind.......
Pool Enclosures

Tech Mentro at Noida,India said...

wow,amazing,i had known that China can do it.

Tech Mentro

firestorm said...

Look no ashfault 3aug1 pua gu!

Unknown said...

It is well known that the technology of china is so advance.So I think building the aircraft could not be a big task for this country.
I would like to say thanks to share this blog with us.