China's new amphib

Largest in service, they say.

China Rolls out World's Largest Amphibious Aircraft - ABC News

 

Neat, but what's the point? Its been done before by the Americans, Russians, British and Japanese and rarely goes anywhere. The big benefit was crew training conducted on the Martin Mars (which is retiring due to lack of work).

Regards,

Art S.

 

I think the 'point' is, is that they want their OWN amphibian... not someone else's.

 

Their OWN stealth fighter I understand. Their OWN gigantic amphibian transport, not so much. I'm not saying its not cool. Hey, I hope it becomes the Chinese C-130 and becomes ubiquitous. However, I see a more likely comparison to the Hughes Hercules (The Spruce Goose) or the Saunders-Roe Princess.

Regards,

Art S.

 

Doesn't look like the largest.

 

They say it's about the size of a 737..., so I guess it's probably the largest contemporary, but the Mars is certainly larger.

 

Mars is not an amphibian. They are using amphibian and probably 'in service' as qualifiers.

Regards,

Art S.

 

I wondered the same thing. Apparently to fight forest fires and supposedly for use in the whole South China Sea mess.

 

It definitely looks like it has some Beriev DNA....

 

Here's a better pic, for scale, undercarriage, etc.

It's definitly an amphibian.

China unveils 'world's largest seaplane' - CNN.com


And, of course the Mars is not... forgot that.

 

A nightmare for the P.I.

It will be difficult for the lone beached Philippine ship to contain the Chinese Marines pouring out of the water bombers.

 

Most definitely, and probable. There is even a Soviet flag hanging on the wall in the first pic.

 

It is slightly larger than the Beriev.

 

Hey China....the 50's called and want their plane back.

 

It is larger than the current Beriev, the Be-200, but about the same size as the Beriev A-40.