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At more or less regular if widely spaced intervals in response to a perceived need Aviation design studios or governments or other enthusiasts plan and even at times build large seaplanes. The reasons vary but are usually similar and include statements such as there is said to be a clear need, a significant market and no appropriate offerings. Some splendid aircraft have been built, flown and then more or less never seen again.
The Saunders Roe 100 passenger turboprop Princess flew 46 time for a total of 100 hrs. The American Martin P6M Seamaster long range bomber also flew only a few times. Howard Hughes’ giant wooden 8 engine Spruce Goose machine flew once allegedly illegally and accidentally with Hughes at the helm but very few have had commercial success. The Russian design bureau Berieve seems to have not acquired the ability to give up and have made a number of large and impressive seaplanes but do not look to have won the battle to establish a place for the large seaplane. The Canadair CL415 is a current production twin turboprop firebomber which seems to have found a precarious niche but the category does not seem to have really taken off if I may indulge myself in an atrocious pun.
In light of the above the recent announcement in ZHUHAI, Guangdong by a Chinese company of its intention to build an Amphibian the size of an Airbus A320 must be viewed as courageous and let us hope the time of the giant amphibian has come..

The aircraft is planned to be a four engine turbine amphibian but details are hard to find.
- The development and production of the Dragon 600, intended to be the world’s largest amphibious aircraft, has received government approval, AVIC General Aircraft Company Ltd. said Wednesday.
The company said research had begun on the proposed craft.
The Dragon 600, which would be as large as an Airbus 320, could be used for tasks such as emergency rescue, fighting forest fires and sea patrols, said Hu Haiyin, deputy general manager of the company.
Hu said that market research indicated a domestic market for 60 such craft in the next 15 years.
The research and design stage would last for four years, with commercial production to begin in at least five years, Hu said.
The company’s facilities are southwest of the Zhuhai airport. The first construction phase is scheduled for completion in 2012 and the company plans to have 1,500 employees.
From http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-06/25/content_11596364.htm