China tests new version of world's largest amphibious aircraft as US interest in sea-going planes grows

business insider via yahoo ^ | June 7, 2022, | Christopher Woody

[RomanSoldier19]

An upgraded model of China's massive AG600 amphibious plane took its first flight on May 31, lifting off and landing at an airport in southern China's Guangdong Province.

The latest model of the AG600 brings a new configuration and a higher maximum takeoff weight to the world's largest amphibious aircraft.

Once fully operational, the AG600 would extend China's reach in the maritime-centric Pacific theater. The US military, which is increasing its own focus on Pacific operations, is also looking into developing aircraft with amphibious capability for similar uses.

[RomanSoldier19]

[ryderann]

I’ll take the Spruce Goose anytime.

[shotgun]

It looks like they stole the plans for the Spruce Goose and modified it. Where else we they get this idea from?

[MercyFlush]

Sea planes are useful for supporting bases that can’t accommodate a landing strip. No doubt someone at the Pentagon is looking at all the old US and Japanese bases in the Pacific to figure out what China is eyeballing.

[RomanSoldier19]

[NY Attitude]

One can always look at the “Caspian Sea Monster”.

[Seruzawa]

Looky. China is finally up to 1920s technology, all on their own. How many repair planes do they have to send out with these seaplanes?

[ought-six]

“It looks like they stole the plans for the Spruce Goose and modified it. Where else we they get this idea from?”

The Chinese steal everything. There is a reason for the term “Chinese Bandits.”

[Steely Tom]

Looks real stealthy.

[null and void]

“The US military, which is increasing its own focus on Pacific operations, is also looking into developing aircraft with amphibious capability for similar uses.”

Or we could just steal the Chinese PLAN plans. Turnabout is fair play...

[Parley Baer]

Looks like a modernized version of the Martin P5M that I worked on while in the Navy.

[RomanSoldier19]

Amphibious version of C-130J aircraft in the works for the U.S. Air ...
https://militaryembedded.com/ai/machine-learning/...

[RomanSoldier19]

https://militaryembedded.com/ai/machine-learning/amphibious-version-of-c-130j-aircraft-in-the-works-for-the-us-air-force-built-using-vr-and-ai-modeling

[TigersEye]

Yeah, but this one is made of local materials. It’s called the Bamboo Duck.

Orange sauce is extra.

[steve86]

"Where else did they get this idea from?"

[null and void]

Thanks for the corrected link, I didn't have time to peruse all 872 pages!

Funny thing, I looked at the yellow puke green PLAN attempt and thought 'this is a job for a Herky Bird!'

[Chode]

i always expected more from the wing-in-ground effect plane system for transatlantic cargo delivery

[steve86]

[stump56]

https://newatlas.com/aircraft/darpa-liberty-lifter-ground-effect/

[sevlex]

Soviets beat them with the Ekranoplan.