http://www.catalina.org.uk/ All the latest Catalina PBY5A News from around the World Copyright © 2007 noreply@mpinder.com Fri, 04 Jul 2008 12:50:14 GMT 20 Subdreamer RSS Syndicator 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 Israelvia 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. http://www.catalina.org.uk/catalina-latest-news/p2_articleid/28 David Legg Latest News Tue, 17 Jun 2008 10:37:10 GMT The June 2008 edition of FlyPast is a Catalina sp... http://www.catalina.org.uk/press-video/p2_articleid/27 Mike Pinder Press & Video Mon, 05 May 2008 16:21:44 GMT Aeroplane Magazine - January 2008The January 2008 ... http://www.catalina.org.uk/press-video/p2_articleid/26 Mike Pinder Press & Video Wed, 16 Apr 2008 08:22:14 GMT It has been my intention for some time now to put ... http://www.catalina.org.uk/catalina-latest-news/p2_articleid/23 David Legg Latest News Wed, 20 Feb 2008 13:15:27 GMT 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 http://www.catalina.org.uk/catalina-latest-news/p2_articleid/25 David Legg Latest News Tue, 19 Feb 2008 10:29:00 GMT We now have in stock this beautifully hand-carved,... http://www.catalina.org.uk/catalina-latest-news/p2_articleid/24 Mike Pinder Latest News Fri, 01 Feb 2008 14:58:14 GMT 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. http://www.catalina.org.uk/catalina-latest-news/p2_articleid/22 David Legg Latest News Wed, 07 Nov 2007 14:31:34 GMT This documentary marks the first flying season fro... http://www.catalina.org.uk/press-video/p2_articleid/21 Mike Pinder Press & Video Tue, 16 Oct 2007 11:01:41 GMT Watch this remarkable footage as you have exclus... http://www.catalina.org.uk/press-video/p2_articleid/20 Mike Pinder Press & Video Wed, 03 Oct 2007 10:17:28 GMT 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! http://www.catalina.org.uk/catalina-latest-news/p2_articleid/19 David Legg Latest News Tue, 01 May 2007 18:13:13 GMT