White Swan or Ugly Duckling? Harbin's SH-5 Flying Boat

[nuuumannn]

Hi Guys, a gem from China on my walkaround site, the impressive Harbin SH-5 flying boat. Click on the link below for more information on the type.

SH-5 01

SH-5 02

SH-5 06

SH-5 53

SH-5 73

SH-5 83

Link to information and more photos of the SH-5: warbirdswalkaround.wixsite.com/warbirds/single-post/2018/03/18/White-Swan-or-Ugly-Duckling-Harbins-SH-5-Flying-Boat

[FlyingKiwi]

I would say ugly as heck, but in the way that it is possible to be very cool while also being ugly.

[flyinkiwi]

I know it's pedantic but as that SH-5 has its own in built landing gear its an amphibian, not a flying boat.

[vultee43]

Looks like the lovechild of Martin flying boats and a communist design bureau

[ErrolC]

Mar 19, 2018 12:52:29 GMT 12 flyinkiwi said:

I know it's pedantic but as that SH-5 has its own in built landing gear its an amphibian, not a flying boat.

Do amphibians exclusively have hulls? That would make eg DHC Beaver ZK-WKA an amphibious float plane?

Ugly duckling?!? You mean it gets BIGGER!?

[nuuumannn]

I know it's pedantic but as that SH-5 has its own in built landing gear its an amphibian, not a flying boat.

"The SH-5 is an entirely indigenous flying boat (not an amphibian, as its retractable undercarriage is for self-beaching only and does not enable the aircraft to land on a runway) designed as a long range anti-shipping strike aircraft..."

From here: warbirdswalkaround.wixsite.com/warbirds/single-post/2018/03/18/White-Swan-or-Ugly-Duckling-Harbins-SH-5-Flying-Boat

[kiwithrottlejockey]

Mar 19, 2018 11:49:00 GMT 12 FlyingKiwi said:

I would say ugly as heck, but in the way that it is possible to be very cool while also being ugly.

The Martin Marlin was likewise extremely ugly, but I suppose it did its job as it was intended to do.

I reckon the Short Empire 'boats would have to be the nicest looking flying-boats....they just looked right!

[FlyingKiwi]

I thought the Beriev A-40 that visited Auckland in the early '90s was quite nice looking too, although a bit different obviously being a jet.

[suthg]

The wingspan does not look that immense though, so not a heavy lifter, more a surveillance type.

[Mustang51]

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder...........otherwise I may never have been married ! Functional, pragmatic design, perhaps just playing around with concepts but I like it.