China’s independently developed AG600 large amphibious aircraft has successfully passed a crucial flight test under extreme high-temperature and high-humidity conditions, marking a significant milestone in its certification process. The test was conducted on Tuesday at an airport in Nanchang, east China’s Jiangxi Province, as announced by the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), the country’s leading aircraft manufacturer.
The AG600, also known as “Kunlong,” endured rigorous conditions during the 2.5-hour flight test. Prior to takeoff, the aircraft was exposed to intense sunlight for five hours, with ambient temperatures soaring above 35 degrees Celsius and humidity levels exceeding 44 percent. This harsh environment was designed to evaluate the performance of the aircraft’s hydraulic systems and overall functionality after prolonged exposure to extreme weather.
“All systems performed exceptionally well under these challenging conditions,” stated an AVIC representative. “This successful test verifies the AG600’s reliability and readiness for the next phases of certification.”
The AG600 aims to obtain its airworthiness certificate by the end of this year. Currently, four AG600 aircraft are undergoing intensive flight tests across various locations in China to assess their performance and compliance with aviation standards. In addition to high-temperature assessments, the AG600 has previously completed cold-weather flight tests in the frigid climate of north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in February, as well as night flight tests and evaluations of in-flight airspeed calibration and stall speeds.
Following the recent success in Nanchang, an AG600 aircraft will proceed to the civil aircraft test center in Pucheng, northwest China’s Shaanxi Province, to undertake further tests and related missions.
The AG600 amphibious aircraft family is envisioned as a vital asset to strengthen the country’s emergency rescue capabilities. Featuring a unique design that combines an aircraft-shaped upper body with a ship-bottom-shaped lower body, the AG600 is tailored for versatile missions, including firefighting, maritime search and rescue, and operations across diverse terrains and environmental conditions.
As China’s largest amphibious aircraft, the AG600 represents a significant advancement in the nation’s aeronautical engineering and contributes to enhancing its capacity for emergency response and disaster relief efforts.
Reference(s):
China's AG600 amphibious plane passes extreme temperature flight test
cgtn.com
