http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/...191457691.html
No longer a flight of fancy for the big Cat
By John Huxley
September 11, 2003
'After a series of bureaucratic delays, border crises, monsoonal storms and mechanical problems that forced crew to make an emergency landing at a remote airstrip in France, a historic Catalina flying boat has finally started its sentimental flight to Sydney.
'Despite a last-minute delay to replace corroded nose-wheel bearings, the patched-up plane left Arcachon in France on Monday afternoon. After stops in Italy and Greece, it is now heading towards the Middle East on the most circuitous section of its 20,000 kilometre trip.
'Captain Bruce Simpson, a Sydney-based Qantas pilot, and his four crew including co-pilot Donna Porter, plan to fly the plane in a series of 12 hops - the longest lasting 10 hours - through the Middle East, India and South-East Asia before a scheduled arrival in Darwin on September 22.
'It is hoped to over-fly Sydney before the end of the month, though original plans to put down on Rose Bay, just as Catalinas did in the past, have been abandoned because of damage to the undercarriage from the plane's emergency landing last year.
'"We still have to run the gauntlet of the weather, but the important thing is that after all the problems we are on the way," Bob De La Hunty, president of the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society (HARS), said. "We're now keeping our fingers crossed."
'HARS is joint organiser - with the Seaplane Pilots Association - of the Catalina Project which paid $700,000 for the 58-year-old plane after a four-year, worldwide search for a suitable model. It had been used as a water bomber in Portugal.
'Organisers feared after last year's mishap that the plane, call-sign CAT VH-PBZ, would have to be dismantled and shipped back to Australia in crates. But several months of repairs in Arcachon have made it air-worthy - if not sea-worthy - again.
'"The Cats are part of the nation's aviation heritage," said Mr De La Hunty, who with Phil Dulhunty, of the pilots association, has been a driving force behind the plan to bring back to Australia what will be the only working model of the nostalgic plane.
'"They played a vital role, both in peacetime and in war, and are fondly remembered by anyone who saw them on Rose Bay or served with the 'Black Cats' at Rathmines [Lake Macquarie]. Now, future generations will be able to experience the thrill of seeing them fly again."
'The Catalina will land at Albion Park, near Wollongong, where it will undergo further restoration before joining the rest of the HARS collection there.'
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Sounds like she is on schedule, then.
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Next stop for Black Cat is Coffs, with short hop to go
By John Huxley
September 22, 2003
It still needs to be painted the correct colour, but the Black Cat has finally landed. About 8.30 last night, Catalina flying boat CAT VHPBZ touched down at Darwin Airport after an arduous, adventure-filled 13-day flight from France.
The arrival in Australia of the historic, 60-year-old Catalina is the culmination of several years' planning by local aircraft enthusiasts, who were determined to bring home a fully operational version of a plane that played a crucial role in the nation's civil and military aviation history.
A worldwide search resulted in the $700,000 purchase last year of the plane, which was being used as a water-bomber fighting fires in Portugal.
When the plane was damaged while making an emergency landing at a remote French airfield due to hydraulic problems during a test flight, Catalina Project organisers feared it might have to be dismantled and shipped home in boxes. Fortunately, a team of engineers were able to make the plane airworthy for its 20,000kilometre "ferry flight" to Australia, which began two weeks ago.
Yesterday's leg began in Bali.
"It's been a real adventure," Bob De la Hunty, president of the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society (HARS), said last night.
"In India, the problem was paperwork. In the Middle East, it was the need to avoid high-risk airspace. In Thailand, it was searching out the right fuel and waiting for a new radio to be installed."
The plane and crew, under the command of Bruce Simpson, are due to continue south to Coffs Harbour tomorrow.
Plans for the Catalina to land at Rose Bay, where the flying boats were once a familiar sight, had to be abandoned because it is not seaworthy. However, it will fly over the old Catalina base at Rathmines, on Lake Macquarie.
The Black Cat is expected to reach its final destination, Albion Park, near Wollongong, later this week. It will join the HARS collection of historic aircraft.
This story was found at:
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/...082870467.html