I spent a (very, very long) weekend in Volgograd, Russia a couple of weeks ago. Used to be called Stalingrad. A lot of WWII history around here.
My client took me on a boat ride on the Volga. Saw this strange looking Amphib.
It's supposedly made in the Ukraine. A friend of his owns it. He flies an Antonov for his day job. He was out of town, or he would have taken me up in it.
Frankly, kinda glad he was not there...... The thing looks kinda homemade and not very well maintained......

I don't know what it is about Russians but they don't seem to have the safety fixation of us Western types.

Perhaps they don't feel like they have as much to live for

I'm surprised Russia hasn't shot it down yet considering it's a Ukranian airplane in Russian airspace.

Here is some info. Unfortunately, in Russian only.

http://airbreeze.org/

[youtube]http://youtu.be/sBsA4wRp5Hc[/youtube]

Say what you will about Russian/Soviet safety, but the Russian aircraft I have flown have been built like tanks, and performed pretty darn well for their intended use.

Ugly as all get out, but it works.

Every time i fly on the airlines in eastern europe, the whole cabin erupts in applause as we land! Was there another option? Lol. Theyre also applauding while they get up in the aisles to grab their bags as we deccelerate on the runway, Haha

(I can say this, because my wife is Russian, and I'm mostly Latvian, and we enjoy poking the bear )