China's AG600 amphibian makes maiden flight.
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China's AG600 amphibian makes maiden flight.
The maiden flight of China's AVIC AG600 has taken place. The aircraft is the world's largest amphibious aircraft capable of operating on land or sea.
AG600 Kunlong, world's largest amphibious plane, in maiden China flight - BBC News
AG600 Kunlong, world's largest amphibious plane, in maiden China flight - BBC News
Last edited by Super VC-10; 24th Dec 2017 at 15:53. Reason: punc
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Obviously the BBC has never heard of tbe Martin Mars, nearlly twice as large (71m wingspan ) with MTOW 75 tons and able to carry 133 pax . 2 are still flying in Canada as fire fighters .
Join Date: Sep 2014
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Coulson owns the Mars, both of them. Only one currently flyable, other caught in a malaise about museum donation or something. Google earth for Sproat Lake on vancouver Island to see where they both are. Very impressive aircraft. The flyable one did not fight fires here this year, politics has effectively grounded it.
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a) They have heard of the Martin Mars and
b) They emphasise 'in production'...
Still, lets not interupt a bit of BBC slagging...
Join Date: Jan 2008
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The Martin Mars is not amphibious - it cannot land on or take off from anything but water, and had no integral landing gear.
It could have motorized "beaching gear" bolted on temporarily once on the surface, to crawl out of the water onto a ramp, for maintenance or other needs. As did its sibling, the PBM Mariner:
https://www.beamng.com/images/import...3c62e32eb0.png
So "largest amphibious aircraft" is correct with regard to the AG600, which has integral retractable landing gear for solid runway operations.
It could have motorized "beaching gear" bolted on temporarily once on the surface, to crawl out of the water onto a ramp, for maintenance or other needs. As did its sibling, the PBM Mariner:
https://www.beamng.com/images/import...3c62e32eb0.png
So "largest amphibious aircraft" is correct with regard to the AG600, which has integral retractable landing gear for solid runway operations.
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Oh my Oh my ! I dared to criticize the BBC...
You are all right of course, what made me post about the Mars is the comparison with the Spruce Goose in the end or the article., also not " in production"
For the rest , very sorry to hear of the Mars current situation , I was fortunate to be offered an in depth visit in one of them when they still had 3 in Vancouver Island i.e. long ago. Magnificent aircraft .

You are all right of course, what made me post about the Mars is the comparison with the Spruce Goose in the end or the article., also not " in production"

For the rest , very sorry to hear of the Mars current situation , I was fortunate to be offered an in depth visit in one of them when they still had 3 in Vancouver Island i.e. long ago. Magnificent aircraft .