By David Legg
Published: 2 September, 2008
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The latest round-up of Catalina happenings around the globe. As usual, this feature is based on the original version published in The Catalina News, the journal of The Catalina Society and written by magazine Editor, David Legg.PBY-6A N285RA has been a regular feature in our column over the years as we have followed it through periods of storage around Great Britain (Castle Donington, Exeter, Biggin Hill and North Weald - twice) and then its aborted delivery flight to the Israeli Air Force Museum at Hatzerim, a flight that was terminated at Beauvais, north of Paris after engine failure. After being stored at Beauvais for some time, the airframe was dismantled and, as I reported in my last column, it was trucked out of France to Antwerp in Belgium in late-February 2008 on the first stage of its onward journey to Israel by surface transport. It left Antwerp by ship on the 7th May and this latest episode in its history came to an end on 12th May when it arrived at the port of Ashdod, several days ahead of its original schedule (this must be the first time that anything has happened early for this Catalina!). It was unloaded and, after clearance by customs, was trucked to the IDFAF museum at Hatzerim, arriving there on June 12th. The Catalina consists of sections, namely hull, wing centre-sections and outer panels, engines, props, rudder, horizontal tail and elevators. The sections of wing trailing edge are apparently broken in more than one place. Some wing damage was caused during the tie-down process on the ship used for transportation. Rumours of disagreements within the museum hierarchy about the manner in which the Catalina was delivered to Hatzerim have surfaced and it has to be wondered if this seemingly ill-fated PBY will ever be restored! However, it is known that re-assembly has been carried out by a team of engineers from IAI (Israel Aircraft Industries) so who knows, perhaps there is hope!  PBY-6A N285RA shortly after arrival at Hatzerim, Israel. Note the triangular bombardier’s window common to all PBY-6A variants.
Photo: Tsahi Ben-Ami
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By Mike Pinder
Published: 15 September, 2008
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We've just added a number of new items to our Gift Shop!
  
+ Lots more!
Click here to take a look now.
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By David Legg
Published: 13 June, 2008
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Yet again I seem to have been able to produce an article full of news about surviving Catalinas and changes to that population – not bad for an aircraft whose remaining examples are all now in excess of 63 years old!
 The hull of PBY-6A N285RA shown in Antwerp on route to Israel
via Ron Mak In Europe, the main news concerns the PBY-6A N285RA. I have reported on this aircraft on many occasions in the past and it will be familiar to many as the orange Catalina that was resident at both Biggin Hill and North Weald for many years. Acquired for the Israeli Defence Force Air Force (IDFAF) Museum with help from Boeing some time ago, a delivery flight from North Weald to Israel in May 2004 was thwarted by engine problems that necessitated a precautionary landing at Beauvais, north of Paris. Then, bad weather caused damage to the airframe and eventually the decision was taken to dismantle the PBY and deliver it by surface transport. Eventually, at the very end of February this year, the hull of N285RA left Beauvais and it was seen on a massive low-loader at Antwerp on February 29th, awaiting transfer to a cargo ship. The remaining components will no doubt follow in due course. The hull at least is known to have subsequently arrived in Israel on May 11th. It is to be hoped that the future for this Cat’ is now looking rosier.
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By David Legg
Published: 19 February, 2008
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More updates on what has been happening recently in the world of surviving Catalinas. Here in the UK, the future of PBY-5A N423RS looks somewhat uncertain. It has been in open storage at Lee on the Solent airfield, the former HMS Daedulus, since its arrival there and it has not flown since that date. Rumours of a sale have circulated from time to time but without apparent result. Now, to add to its problems, the future of the airfield itself is looking unsafe! Owners of resident aircraft have been given notice to quit and the airfield is to close to all aviation use except for the resident Hampshire Constabulary which flies from there. However, the closure date has been extended twice and is currently set for late-Spring. Whether the airfield will be reprieved or the Catalina will be restored to airworthy condition once more and flown out remains to be seen.  Cyclone-powered Super Cat N31235 Aluminum Falcon part-way through its re-paint at Palm Springs, California in the Summer of 2007
Photo: Joe Schiell
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By Mike Pinder
Published: 1 February, 2008
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We now have in stock this beautifully hand-carved, hard wood model of the Catalina painted in our current air show scheme.
Representing 44-33915 sophisticat one of several USAF OA-10A catalina amphibians operated by the 5th emergency rescue squadron of the 8th Air force based at Halesworth in Suffolk.
- 54cm (21") wingspan
- 36cm (14") length
- Weight: 800g (1 and three quarter pounds)
Click here to view in our shop!
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By David Legg
Published: 20 February, 2008
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It has been my intention for some time now to put a list of surviving Catalina's onto our website. This is now available!
The list is arranged by the country where the survivor can be found - this does not necessarily tie in with the country where the survivor is registered. It is intended that this list will be kept up-to-date - if any reader can provide further updates on any of the Catalinas featured, please contact me by clicking here David Legg.
© David Legg February 2009
Click here to download the list!
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By David Legg
Published: 7 November, 2007
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By the time I had finished the May 2007 edition, I was beginning to think that Catalina happenings around the world were starting to quieten down a little. How wrong could I be! If anything, activity seems to have moved up a gear, in particular in the Antipodes so let’s start by going down-under... PBY-6A CC-CNP, seen here at Seia, Portugal in February 2006, is set to fly to Australia soon to begin a new life as VH-CAT
Photo: Andy Marden As mentioned in our last issue, the PBY-5A N9502C is now on full public display at the Aviation Heritage Museum of Western Australia at Bull Creek. It is somewhat shoe-horned into the museum but is under cover and looks great in a full US Navy colour scheme.
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By David Legg
Published: 1 May, 2007
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In this latest round-up, I have added in a couple of extra items about Catalina relics and associated artefacts at the end. Perhaps the latter can become a more regular feature? But first an update on whole Catalinas around the world... Former Canso A C-FCRR, now in a plain white colour scheme, being worked on in the open at Orly earlier this year.
Photo: Alain MaireIn France, C-FCRR continues to reside at Orly, Paris. Although ‘RR has not flown now for some years, it has been very well looked after and hangared so remains in very good condition. My contact Alain Maire gave me an update at the end of last year and advised that, at that time, the freshly overhauled propellers had just been received back from San Antonio Propellers in Texas where they had been subject to some really splendid work. The owners also have a new -92 engine from Sun Air Parts in California. Some instruments are being overhauled at Otto Instruments, also in California whilst the radios, whilst not being replaced, are being worked on at a repair ship in the South of France. Carburettor, oil and hydraulic hoses and control surface cables have been renewed and the elevators and rudder had to be removed to allow for the repair of the tailcone and the rudder and elevator bearings have been replaced. At the same time, some attention has been given to the fabric and doping on the elevators and all control surfaces will be re-covered before the airframe is repainted. Some corrosion has been rectified and a broken shaft on the input wheel in the aileron trim box had to be replaced. On the port side, the aileron bellcrank bearing also had top be renewed. Currently, the airframe is a basic white colour scheme overall, the previous Air France colours having been removed. By March this year, the new port engine had been installed but ongoing work was somewhat restricted as the Orly hangarage has had to be vacated prior to demolition!
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By David Legg
Published: 1 February, 2007
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There is still no shortage of news to bring you on the world of surviving Catalinas – indeed, as I put together the items for this latest review, even I was surprised at how much was going on! PBY-6A N85U in action in Washington State during September 2006 There has been some further movement involving two North American PBYs that featured in our last review in September 2006. Firstly, ‘OA-10A’ C-GFFC has been on the move. This had spent some considerable time in storage with the fire fighting company SLAFCO at Moses Lake in Washington State. As reported in September, it had been flown up to Red Deer, Alberta after acquisition by Buffalo Airways although, at present, I do not know the transit date. On October 31st last year, it was cancelled from the Canadian register upon sale to the USA although no US marks or its new owner are yet known. Prior to cancellation, it was ferried to a new home at Sanford, Maine where it will be restored for new owner Jim Knowles. Part of the project will be to re-install blisters and bow turret although the latter is a long-term goal at present. Just after arrival at Sanford, it was hangared and temporarily decked out in Halloween-style trappings at the end of October for the enjoyment of the new owners and their families! The designation OA-10A above is in inverted commas as there is real doubt about this normally quoted identity. It is officially registered with the construction number ‘013’ which is not a ‘real’ Catalina c/n and is usually also quoted as CV-483 which was a Canadian Vickers-built USAAF OA-10A, serial 44-33972, reportedly scrapped. It seems likely that some ‘creative paperwork’ by a post-war conversion company was responsible for the confused pedigree of this Cat and the real identity may never be known!
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By David Legg
Published: 20 October, 2006
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There is still plenty going on in the world of surviving Catalinas to report in our regular round-up of news. This latest offering has been adapted from the September 2006 edition of The Catalina News.  Fabulous shot of G-PBYA operating from Lake Geneva in October 2006
Christian Bechir Our own Plane Sailing Catalina G-PBYA finished the 2006 air show season with a week-long visit to Geneva in Switzerland during the first week of October. It was booked to star in the static aircraft park at the Geneva Classics exhibition held at the Palexpo exhibition centre adjacent to Geneva’s airport. Although the exhibition was primarily for classic automobiles, the discerning visitors and press were very interested indeed in our beautiful Catalina and there was a constant stream of admirers, not least because it was the only aircraft present to have a support crew in attendance to meet and greet the public throughout the press day and three day show.
The other reason for such interest was that the Cat performed four water landings on Lake Geneva during the run up to the exhibition, the first time that a flying boat had landed on the lake since 1948! The crew were treated like conquering heroes and a great time was had by all! A full report will be included in the January 2007 edition of The Catalina News.
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