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World's Largest Amphibious Aircraft Goes Into Production In China

Posted by timothy on from the spruce-goose-has-it-beat-for-size dept.

stephendavion (2872091) writes "Chinese aircraft manufacturer China Aviation Industry General Aircraft (CAIGA) has started trial production of its TA600 amphibious aircraft, claimed to be the world's largest of its kind. With an expected maiden flight late next year, the Chinese plane would replace Japan's ShinMaywa US-2 short takeoff and landing (STOL) aircraft as the largest of its kind globally." Take a look at a side profile illustration of the CA-600, on this Korean language page. The TA600 has a huge maximum takeoff weight of 53.5 tons, but looks a bit puny compared to Howard Hughes' H-4 Hercules.

5 of 85 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Why? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Most likely to aid in their claim on uninhabited islands in the South China Sea. Amphibious planes would allow for quick small arms transport to distant/remote islands.

  2. Re:Why? by Deadstick · · Score: 4, Informative

    The Hercules, aka Spruce Goose, is not amphibious: it's a seaplane, period.

    This is an amphibian: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wi...

  3. Re:The Spruce Goose is your comparison? by Deadstick · · Score: 4, Informative

    The Goose never flew again because the war was over and the government had stopped paying for it. Hughes made the one flight only to prove he had actually built a working airplane and not defrauded the taxpayers with a phony project.

  4. Re:Spruce Goose by fnj · · Score: 3, Informative

    Yeah, except this piece of junk is tiny. It is not large at all. The Martin JRM-1 Mars in 1942 was much heavier. It's a squeaking mosquito next to the Hughes H-4 Hercules of 1947. Yes, shut up, I know those are straight flying boats - because sometimes you just have to make up your mind.

    Technically, sure, it's the heaviest amphibian in the world. Amphibians as a class are practically dead.

  5. Not so big by jamesl · · Score: 3, Insightful

    The Martin JRM Mars has more impressive specs ...

    General characteristics
    o Crew: four (with accommodations for a second relief crew)
    o Capacity: 133 troops, or 84 litter patients and 25 attendants
    o Payload: 32,000 lb (15,000 kg) of cargo, including up to seven jeeps
    o Length: 117 ft 3 in (35.74 m)
    o Wingspan: 200 ft 0 in (60.96 m)
    o Height: 38 ft 5 in (11.71 m)
    o Wing area: 3,686 ft (342.4 mÂ)
    o Empty weight: 75,573 lb (34,279 kg)
    o Loaded weight: 90,000 lb (40,820 kg)
    o Max. takeoff weight: 165,000 lb (74,800 kg)
    o Powerplant: 4 x Wright R-3350-24WA Duplex Cyclone 18-cylinder radial engines, 2,500 hp (1,900 kW) each

    Performance
    o Maximum speed: 192 knots (221 mph, 356 km/h)
    o Cruise speed: 165 knots (190 mph, 305 km/h)
    o Range: 4,300 nautical miles (5,000 mi, 8,000 km)
    o Service ceiling: 14,600 ft (4,450 m)
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M...

    Still at work.
    http://www.martinmars.com/airc...