This extraordinary flying boat is apparently one of six built, no doubt inspired by the Japanese Shin Meiwa designs with a bit of Beriev thrown in too. First flew 1976 and entered service with the People's Liberation Army North Sea Fleet at Qingdao ten years later. Orbis DC-8 N220RB behind

What a perfect pose. Even a matching dinghy. Now reprinted in blue as 9013, this Beriev is thought in some circles not to have served in China, instead being delivered direct from Russia for display, even though it is a Chinese Qing-6 turboprop conversion.

Iconic flying boat pose on the specially constructed lake. When I saw the Beriev in 1999, it was in a white colour scheme and serialled 98706, later being painted black ('9886')

The Naval Museum in Qingdao has quite a few aircraft. Unfortunately I didn't photograph them all.

After a holiday with friends in Japan, I took an overnight ferry from Shimonoseki to China, and was stunned to see this as the ship put into Qingdao. Only a few SH-5s appear to have been built for the People's Navy.