Nice PBY video
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Berkshire, UK
Age: 79
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Truly wonderful aeroplane. My wife and I flew in the New Zealand one in 2007 and it was a very memorable experience... cheap too! Just a few bucks for a nice ride.
My wife and I flew in the New Zealand one in 2007
I recently received this photo from a friend who is working on her in New Plymouth:
One of the main issues is small patches of corrosion near the trailing edges. Small patches but lots of them!
I hope to be able to fly in her next year. That will be a big step up from my previous amphib ride - a BC Airlines Mallard.
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: E.Wash State
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We are fortunate there are still some folks around who are willing to restore and preserve these classic aircraft. Not to mention the enormous resources it takes to do the job.
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Cotswolds
Age: 82
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Catalinas at Pensacola
My neighbour Jack Stringer, as an RAF pilot, trained on Catalinas at Pensacola (?spelling) USA in WW2. Now 93, he delights in anything Catalina-related, and was much moved by watching the video mentioned above.
Any further material relating either to the aircraft, or to RAF training at Pensacola (is there an Old Boys Association?), would be of enormous interest to him. His memory is still sharp, although he is not now as nimble as he was.
I will happily pass on to him any suggestions anyone cares to make.
Many thanks.
GB
Any further material relating either to the aircraft, or to RAF training at Pensacola (is there an Old Boys Association?), would be of enormous interest to him. His memory is still sharp, although he is not now as nimble as he was.
I will happily pass on to him any suggestions anyone cares to make.
Many thanks.
GB
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: UK
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When my Dad was a trainee Observer/Navigator in the Fleet Air Arm he had a ride in a Catalina in heavy winter weather near Arbroath. After landing in the sea fierce wind and tide meant the engines had to keep working while Dad climbed up onto the roof with a boat hook to grab hold of a buoy. He had to lie on that narrow area of fuselage roof between the wing pylon and the arc of a propeller.
His mind had expunged all memory of this until a few years ago at Culdrose where we were forced to shelter from traditional British summer weather under the wing of a parked Catalina.
His mind had expunged all memory of this until a few years ago at Culdrose where we were forced to shelter from traditional British summer weather under the wing of a parked Catalina.
My late father also trained on the PBY at Pensacola - I don't know the basic trainer but he then progressed via the Harvard to the PBY. Although he continued flying commercially until he was 62, he never saw another sea-plane. He was however posted to Coastal Command originally flying the Wellington to look for U-boats. I suspect he was at Pensacola somewhat later than your neighbour as he would be 90 now if still alive. I seem to remember he graduated in late '44.
