emirates7 - On Sunday, China’s AG600 large amphibious aircraft, nicknamed "Kunlong," received its type certificate from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), clearing a major hurdle toward its official entry into the market.
As reported by China Central Television (CCTV), this type certificate confirms that the aircraft's design and all its components meet regulatory standards. The certification marks a milestone in the successful development of the AG600, currently the world’s largest newly-built amphibious aircraft.
Developed to enhance China’s capabilities in emergency response and disaster relief, the AG600 is engineered for missions such as firefighting and maritime search and rescue, and can operate across various types of terrain throughout the country.
Weighing up to 60 tonnes at takeoff, the aircraft can carry 12 tonnes of water, fly at a cruising speed of at least 220 km/h, and reach a maximum range of 4,500 kilometers.
Designed for dual operation on land and water, the AG600 features a distinctive structure. Cheng Zhihang, Director of the General Design Department at South China Aircraft Industry Co., Ltd (a subsidiary of China Aviation Industry General Aircraft), explained that the aircraft is equipped with a hull-shaped fuselage and wing-mounted floats to ensure balance on water. The front of the fuselage includes anti-wave grooves and a stepped hull bottom to enhance water performance, while high-strut landing gear on either side supports land operations. These unique structural elements allow seamless transition between water and land takeoffs and landings.
Cheng emphasized the technical hurdles the team had to overcome due to the drastic difference in density between air and water—roughly 800 times. To address these challenges, the development team conducted thousands of simulations and tests in both hydrodynamic and aerodynamic environments. He noted that extensive research and complex manufacturing solutions were critical to bringing the AG600’s design to life.
As reported by China Central Television (CCTV), this type certificate confirms that the aircraft's design and all its components meet regulatory standards. The certification marks a milestone in the successful development of the AG600, currently the world’s largest newly-built amphibious aircraft.
Developed to enhance China’s capabilities in emergency response and disaster relief, the AG600 is engineered for missions such as firefighting and maritime search and rescue, and can operate across various types of terrain throughout the country.
Weighing up to 60 tonnes at takeoff, the aircraft can carry 12 tonnes of water, fly at a cruising speed of at least 220 km/h, and reach a maximum range of 4,500 kilometers.
Designed for dual operation on land and water, the AG600 features a distinctive structure. Cheng Zhihang, Director of the General Design Department at South China Aircraft Industry Co., Ltd (a subsidiary of China Aviation Industry General Aircraft), explained that the aircraft is equipped with a hull-shaped fuselage and wing-mounted floats to ensure balance on water. The front of the fuselage includes anti-wave grooves and a stepped hull bottom to enhance water performance, while high-strut landing gear on either side supports land operations. These unique structural elements allow seamless transition between water and land takeoffs and landings.
Cheng emphasized the technical hurdles the team had to overcome due to the drastic difference in density between air and water—roughly 800 times. To address these challenges, the development team conducted thousands of simulations and tests in both hydrodynamic and aerodynamic environments. He noted that extensive research and complex manufacturing solutions were critical to bringing the AG600’s design to life.