The first photos of China’s newest ekranoplan have emerged online. Dubbed the “Bohai Sea Monster,” the four-engine wing-in-ground effect (WIG) craft was spotted on a pier in the Bohai Sea, off the Yellow Sea between China and Korea.

What the Heck Is an “Ekranoplan?”

Seaplanes have been around for nearly as long as their land-based counterparts. Aircraft like the American Consolidated PBY Catalina and the Japanese Kawanishi H8K flying boats were instrumental in reconnaissance, search and rescue (ISR) and logistical operations throughout the Second World War. The Catalina was also used as a patrol bomber and anti-submarine craft, while the Kawanishi could carry bombs; the Japanese craft was central to Japan’s plan to raid Pearl Harbor a second time in March 1942, although this plan was ultimately aborted.

Ekranoplans are similar to seaplanes, but are more specialized. They are designed to skim the surface, typically operating three to 15 feet above the water. This low altitude allows them to exploit the “ground effect,” where air trapped between the wings and the surface reduces drag and increases lift. Altitude beyond 30 feet or so dramatically reduces stability, as the ground effect is lost.

Ekranoplans are less versatile than seaplanes, but offer a........

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