It seems this is not a new idea: https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/threads/lockheed-...

sure, but it's still bloody (Australian adjective/adverb) "silly"

another day in paradise, or is paradise one day closer ?

I don't disagree. Maybe the folks who first dreamed up the idea in the 60s (and again in the 90s) came to the same conclusion and that's why it never happened. Now those people are gone and the new folks will have to come to the same conclusion. Learning [from history] is hard (sarcasm).

seaplanes are my favorite kind of aircraft, but this one looks crappy. Except aesthetic factors - are V-22 gone from US military inventory? And i agree with Stephan - industry memory has length of just one generation - this is one more circle on topic analyzed more than 3 times already.

strictly this is a float plane ... a seaplane has a floating fuselage (the lower fuselage has a step and chines like a float).

The Shorts Sunderland/Sandringham was a seaplane ... and a wonder to behold taking off on Sydney Harbour.

another day in paradise, or is paradise one day closer ?

Of interesting note is the 60s-era idea was for a seaplane version (not float plane). Old Lockheed sketches in link in post #2.

Maybe we just buy a few Beriev BE-200s instead.

Martin Mars ?

another day in paradise, or is paradise one day closer ?

Forgive me my ignorance :D - i'm not native speaker in english language - till this time i thought that seaplane is general nomenclature for water operation capable airplanes, with split on flying boats (displacing fuselage) and floatplanes using separate floating devices and of course we have something like Grumman Duck with float integrated in the fuselage structure... but this not changing fact that floatplane Herc looks like piece of crap :D.
Considering as much Wikipedia can be count as a credible source of knowledge, they are backing my understanding of nomenclature in this matter :D:D:D:D

This post has a lot in common with posting on Airliners.net/forum/...

It Looks Like a C-130 Seaplane is Finally Happening
https://www.airliners.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10...

Regards, Wil Taylor
o Trust - But Verify!
o We believe to be true what we prefer to be true. [Unknown]
o For those who believe, no proof is required; for those who cannot believe, no proof is possible. [variation,Stuart Chase]
o Unfortunately, in science what You 'believe' is irrelevant. ["Orion", Homebuiltairplanes.com forum]

Just spotted this article... teaser behind a paywall. DANG.

AFSOC meets with Japanese navy to talk about US-2 amphibious aircraft
https://www.flightglobal.com/fixed-wing/usaf-meets...
In another indication that developing an amphibious Lockheed Martin C-130 is a top priority for the US Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC), the service sent Major General Eric Hill to speak with Japanese navy representatives about that country’s ShinMaywa US-2 amphibious aircraft.

Regards, Wil Taylor
o Trust - But Verify!
o We believe to be true what we prefer to be true. [Unknown]
o For those who believe, no proof is required; for those who cannot believe, no proof is possible. [variation,Stuart Chase]
o Unfortunately, in science what You 'believe' is irrelevant. ["Orion", Homebuiltairplanes.com forum]

This may be a better fit for an Amphib tactical transport...



Amphibian Aerospace Industries (AAI) plans to bring the Grumman Albatross amphibious twin back into production and has selected the Pratt & Whitney Canada (P&WC) PT6A-67F turboprop engine for its modernized version, the G-111T. Grumman produced 466 of the amphibious airplanes, powered by two nine-cylinder Wright Cyclone radial engines, between 1949 and 1966. AAI intends to restart production of the modernized G-111T, which will also have a glass cockpit, at its home base in Sydney, Australia,

“We are delighted to be playing a role in the modernization of the G-111T aircraft, which has such an illustrious history,” said P&WC v-p of general aviation Nicholas Kanellias. “The PT6A-67F engines, each with 1,700 shp, will provide the G-111T with superior performance, greater range, and…reliability and dependability.”

According to AAI chairman Khoa Hoang, the G-111T will be the only new-production, large transport-category amphibious aircraft for passenger, cargo, and utility missions. “Because of its ability to land and take off from both land and water, the G-111T is ideal for use in inland rivers, ocean rescue, mountainous terrain, and tropic river basins,” he said.

AAI, which bought the type certificate for the Albatross in May 2016, is pitching four G-111T versions: combi passenger/cargo; medevac; aeromedical; and search and rescue.

Regards, Wil Taylor
o Trust - But Verify!
o We believe to be true what we prefer to be true. [Unknown]
o For those who believe, no proof is required; for those who cannot believe, no proof is possible. [variation,Stuart Chase]
o Unfortunately, in science what You 'believe' is irrelevant. ["Orion", Homebuiltairplanes.com forum]

and fire bomber ?

another day in paradise, or is paradise one day closer ?

Wk: AAI is a fairly doubtful enterprise. Whilst I hope they succeed, unfortunately they have a poor track record: they drum up a bit of excitement about local manufacturing which resonates nicely with many parts of the community in Oz, and consequently generates support and funding from various levels of government. They are now on their third (?) domicile in 6 or 7 years, and in that time have delivered a handful of glossy brochures and a similar quantity of red-faced politicians.