Just thought I’d hop over from my normal domain (commercial) and post a few pics of Catalinas from a recent trip to Washington state…
MOSES LAKE, WA
Former SLAFCO PBY-5A N31235 “Super Catalina” conversion – been stored for quite some time
Former SLAFCO OA-10A C-GFFC – purchased and being prepared by Buffalo for ferry to Red Deer, Alberta after some 10 years without a flight. Engines ran for the first time the previous day
Former SLAFCO PBY-6A N9235Z – looking a bit sorry for itself
Believed to be former SLAFCO PBY-5A N2763A – not looking to bad, considering (notice the Stars and Bars under the wing)
EPHRATA, WA
Former SLAFCO PBY-5A N9505C “Super Catalina” – being slowly restored to “war bird” config and paint by the owner of Cascade Airways
PBY-5A N9505C again – still with “Fire Eaters” nose art from its time as an air tanker
Former SLAFCO PBY-5A N2886D – Oh dear! Wing box was also present but not the foreward fuselage, in a yard just outside the town
Andy
By: setter - 24th April 2005 at 10:57
Hi JDK and others
The opening scene from Always features the PBY in a most amazing bit of cinamtography flying head on to the camera picking up a load of water with a couple of very worried fishermen in the way – well worth watching the movie for the A26 and Cat shots if nothing else – I really like it but then I’m a big woose anyway.
Regards
John P
By: TEXANTOMCAT - 24th April 2005 at 09:01
welcome and many thanks for the posts Commercial Bod!
By: JDK - 24th April 2005 at 01:49
Yes, Fire Eaters was the fim name for the water bombers – so not a real water bomber scheme, but a real water bombr nonetheless!
Thanks for sharing, Andy.
By: Skymonster - 24th April 2005 at 00:08
As both pilots died in that accident, oh dear is a bit of an understatement.
Didn’t realise… 😮 Very sorry! 🙁
Andy
By: Corsair166b - 23rd April 2005 at 23:21
I can still see John Goodman in the ‘Fire Eaters’ Catalina in ‘Always’…
M
By: Eric Mc - 23rd April 2005 at 22:20
Lovely.
Nice to see so many still (potentially) flyable.
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April 23, 2005 at 10:14 pm