View Full Version : China build worlds largest seaplane
piperboy84
25th Jul 2016, 12:02
If its anything like the 2 Chinese quad bikes i bought, they want to keep a close eye on the gear box packing in, carb falling off, sprockets and chain unable to be aligned properly, apart from that it looked the part.
China unveils 'world's largest seaplane' - CNN.com (http://edition.cnn.com/2016/07/24/asia/china-worlds-largest-seaplane/index.html)
Less Hair
25th Jul 2016, 12:12
The world's largest?
How about the Martin Mars?
Intruder
25th Jul 2016, 12:40
Hughes H-4 Hercules?
Less Hair
25th Jul 2016, 12:43
Boeing Pelican?
http://www.boeing.com/news/frontiers/archive/2002/september/i_pw.html
Wizofoz
25th Jul 2016, 12:54
Largest currently produced?
MrMachfivepointfive
25th Jul 2016, 13:42
That's a Shin Meiwa, isn't it? Did the Japanese license her out, or is this just a copy?
Three Lima Charlie
25th Jul 2016, 14:41
The headline should have read, "China builds largest amphibious aircraft". The previous largest amphibian was the Martin PBM-5A Mariner. Yes there are larger "seaplanes" without wheel landing gear.
Less Hair
25th Jul 2016, 14:55
That's a Shin Meiwa, isn't it? Did the Japanese license her out, or is this just a copy?
It's a Chin Meiwa now.
sandiego89
25th Jul 2016, 15:02
That's a Shin Meiwa, isn't it? Did the Japanese license her out, or is this just a copy?
Not a SW license or otherwise. Similar, which is not a surprise- any 4 engine turbo prop amphib would likely look similar (high wing, t-tail, wheels in sponsons, etc.) but the AG-600 is a bit bigger than the Shin Meiwa, and a few other differences.
Now would not be surprised if the Chinese had good "notes" on the Shin Meiwa....
---
Good one Less Hair :)
pattern_is_full
25th Jul 2016, 16:30
Blah, blah, blah (reading comprehension error - never mind)
Kulverstukas
25th Jul 2016, 16:48
Largest currently produced?
With only three currently in production it seems not so difficult.
Stanwell
25th Jul 2016, 17:14
Call me old-fashioned, but in my day of dealing with such things, there was a slight difference between a 'seaplane' and a 'flying-boat'.
A 'seaplane' was a landplane that had been adapted for water-based work - i.e., fitted with floats (call it a float-plane, if you like).
A 'flying-boat' was an aircraft that hat been designed from the outset to use its floating and planing 'hull' for take-off and alighting.
Of course, an amphibian aircraft can be based on either of the above.
The Martin Mars, for example, is a flying-boat (or was, the last time I heard).
ThreeThreeMike
25th Jul 2016, 18:19
A quick check shows the Hawaii Mars has a MGTOW that is 47,000 lbs heavier than the AG600.
Haraka
25th Jul 2016, 19:21
. The previous largest amphibian was the Martin PBM-5A Mariner.
Are we perhaps all forgetting the Beriev A40 Albatros?
G-CPTN
25th Jul 2016, 19:26
SARO Princess (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saunders-Roe_Princess).
rallymania
25th Jul 2016, 20:40
pattern is full
read it again.... :-)
FlightlessParrot
25th Jul 2016, 22:28
Call me old-fashioned, but in my day of dealing with such things, there was a slight difference between a 'seaplane' and a 'flying-boat'.
A 'seaplane' was a landplane that had been adapted for water-based work - i.e., fitted with floats (call it a float-plane, if you like).
A 'flying-boat' was an aircraft that hat been designed from the outset to use its floating and planing 'hull' for take-off and alighting.
Of course, an amphibian aircraft can be based on either of the above.
The Martin Mars, for example, is a flying-boat (or was, the last time I heard).
Difference between Brit and US usage. In this case, the US usage seems preferable to me (Brit though I be) as making the distinctions clearer.
What category does the Ekranoplan fit into?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8Nu94khHoo
The Ekranoplan never really took off....
North Shore
25th Jul 2016, 23:12
Hopefully the maiden flight will go better than this one did: http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2016/07/20/world/asia/ap-as-china-seaplane-crash.html?_r=0
Stanwell
25th Jul 2016, 23:44
You probably have a point there, FlightlessParrot.
The Grumman Duck would be a fair example of 'what do you call it'?.
andrasz
26th Jul 2016, 05:08
The Ekranoplan never really took off....
Bit of a hair splitting, but unlike hydrofoils the ekranoplans were fully airborne, however they were designed to operate in ground effect only, no more than 3-5m above the water surface. Depending on where you draw the line, they may be categorized both as naval vessels or arircraft.
FlightlessParrot
26th Jul 2016, 10:28
You probably have a point there, FlightlessParrot.
The Grumman Duck would be a fair example of 'what do you call it'?.
Pregnant?
Seriously, the advantage of the US terminology is that, in that system, this is certainly a seaplane (and an amphibian), and then we can decide whether it's more a floatplane or a flying boat (but it had probably better make up its mind and have the operation).
evansb
26th Jul 2016, 15:21
The AVIC TA-600 (AG-600) is designed to replace the Harbin Sh-5.
Amphibious means suited to both land and water.
An aircraft with a hydrodynamic hull is generally referred to as a flying boat.
A flying boat capable of land operations would be considered an amphibious flying boat.
Wheeled dollies temporarily attached to a flying boat used for the purposes of hauling the aircraft out of the water for maintenance purposes does not make for an amphibious flying boat.
G-CPTN
26th Jul 2016, 16:54
Amphibious means suited to both land and water.
A flying boat capable of land operations would be considered an amphibious flying boat.
Wheeled dollies temporarily attached to a flying boat used for the purposes of hauling the aircraft out of the water for maintenance purposes does not make for an amphibious flying boat.
Would a true amphibious aircraft need to be able to take off and land on terra firma (as well as water)?
I saw an aircraft that had inbuilt (stowable) handling wheels that didn't look capable of handling landing stresses.
The Catalina variant with retractable undercarriage was a true amphibious flying boat.
Stanwell
27th Jul 2016, 01:17
CPTN,
Your first question: .. Yes.
Secondly, yes, that is was what they were - 'handling wheels', nothing more.
That set-up is sometimes referred to as 'beaching gear'.
tartare
27th Jul 2016, 02:36
That ain't a seaplane.
This is a seaplane - the Saro Queen. (http://www.abovetopsecret.com/forum/thread198736/pg1)
OK - it was never built but...
Stanwell
27th Jul 2016, 03:17
Thanks so much for that link, tartare.
I really didn't know about the SARO Queen - you learn something every day.
It certainly looked to be an attractive and feasible concept.
Please tell me about this TEA firm from Tasmania who were 'negotiating a deal'.
Most people on here would know what and where Tasmania is.
Errol Flynn even came from there.
That tid-bit has certainly piqued my interest.
Um... lifting...
27th Jul 2016, 03:22
SP-5B Marlin | National Naval Aviation Museum (http://www.navalaviationmuseum.org/attractions/aircraft-exhibits/item/?item=sp-5b_marlin)
Have seen this old girl up close. She's a full-figured one, bigger than the Mariner. The rest of the Museum is worth a look as well.
In this case, the US usage seems preferable to me (Brit though I be) as making the distinctions clearer.
One imagines the usual suspects will be stopping your grog presently.
tartare
27th Jul 2016, 06:36
I think the author may have their wires slightly crossed Stanwell.
I can find no reference to a TEA in Tasmania.
They may have meant TEAL (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TEAL) (Tasman Empire Airlines - the precursor to Air New Zealand) whose name lived on in the TE flight designators for early Air NZ flights.
Or possibly TAA (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trans_Australia_Airlines) (Trans-Australia Airlines).
Don't that either would have the deep pockets to buy such a behemoth though.
Other readers may be able to enlighten...
FlightlessParrot
27th Jul 2016, 06:52
I think the author may have their wires slightly crossed Stanwell.
I can find no reference to a TEA in Tasmania.
They may have meant TEAL (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TEAL) (Tasman Empire Airlines - the precursor to Air New Zealand) whose name lived on in the TE flight designators for early Air NZ flights.
Or possibly TAA (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trans_Australia_Airlines) (Trans-Australia Airlines).
Don't that either would have the deep pockets to buy such a behemoth though.
Other readers may be able to enlighten...
Pretty certainly they did a quick misreading of Tasman Empire Airlines Ltd, and thought Tasman meant Tasmania, and left off the L. I suppose those were the days of the wool boom, when an order might have seemed negotiable.
Stanwell
27th Jul 2016, 07:29
Yeah, I think you're right, chaps.
'T.E.A.L.' - Tasman Empire Airways Limited.
Still, I somehow doubt that even the boldest of Kiwi entrepreneurs would have had the balls (or backing) to try that one on.
I'll be mischievious and drift a bit...
A fellow PPRuNer, Fantome, who used to work on the flying boats, reported, on another thread, that a visiting rugby team arrived
in New Zealand one day, only to find that the place was closed.
(Laughter from the sound-effects man, please.)
I recall, back in the day, at our Rose Bay Flying Boat Base here in Sydney, Short Sandringhams doing run-ups at 5am so that
the arrival time at the destination would coincide with high tide.
The neighbours, of course, weren't necessarily happy, but, it was music to my ears at least.
These days, the NIMBYs get stroppy when a Beaver floatplane takes off.
.