Unfortunately the sun refused to play on the day that I was inside the show, but there's no getting away from what a formidable sight China's huge new flying boat actually presents. Although it appeared at the last China Airshow in 2016, it hadn't yet flown at that time, having been built here at Zhuhai. The first flight did not take place till 24th December 2017 with the initial water-borne take-off and landing trials beginning as recently as 20th October 2018. Large sales are not expected although 17 are on order for the Chinese government. Export hopes rest mainly on firefighting capabilities.

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It was added on 19 November 2018, and has since been viewed 514 times.