Ok, I admit it, I've never seen one in real life either.  That is because there is only one, and it is mothballed at a dock somewhere in southern Russia.  This thing is a monster - 380 Tonnes, 148 foot wingspan, 8 (yeah, eight) jet engines, and carries six anti-ship missiles   Check out the photos at Wired Magazine, and lets discuss how ground effect is the only way this bird can fly.