2018: Dutch Catalina PH-PBY to be sold abroad…

I’m not sure but I think this Cat carried the grey colours, shown above in my photos, from the day it arrived in The Netherlands or shortly after. There was an orange Cat in the Netherlands in the late eighties and/or early nineties (now in a museum in Norway) but I can’t tell you if that one ever flew a display at Duxford. If you know an approximate year, you could search through the scramble showreports for Duxford here: http://www.scramble.nl/showreports

Edit: I took the photo below in 1991. This one was flying as C-FIZO at the time, see here for more about this airframe: http://www.warbirdregistry.org/pbyregistry/pby-46645.html

Cat_EHV_1_resize by Jelle Hieminga, on Flickr

Stupid question: did this Catalina ever sport overall ‘orange’ paintwork on the upper surfaces?

I know I saw two Catalinas display together at Duxford (Flying Legends?) and I’m pretty sure one was Dutch (and orange)! The other Catalina belonged to ‘Plane Sailing’ and was the one that sank in an unfortunate (and tragically fatal) water landing (near Southampton?) so that should hopefully date the display a bit?

Dutch news reports that the Cat has now developed an engine problem. As a new engine isn’t expected to arrive until August 22nd, a commemorative flight planned for August 15th will be cancelled, along with two other planned flights that were to be the last ones for this Cat in The Netherlands.

Ironically the Catalina was the first historic type (or one of the first) to transfer to the Dutch register after new regulations came into force. These allow types that can’t have an EASA type certificate to operate under a special, national, certificate. Before that the Cat carried its former, Canadian registration. Over the years, the aircraft has also inspired several internship projects for university students, looking into composite floor panels and wireless intercom systems for example. I’m happy to know that it’ll go to a good home, but it’s a shame that it will leave The Netherlands. It will also cause a decrease in the number of active seaplanes in this country by 50%.

Cat_EHV_1995 by Jelle Hieminga, on Flickr

Cat_SPL_May1998 by Jelle Hieminga, on Flickr

Catalina PH-PBY is to be sold to the Collings Foundation at
https://www.collingsfoundation.org/ ,
it has now transpired.

Yes, it is a very good :eagerness: home for her, just a terrible shame she could not remain
in The Netherlands/Holland , or Europe at least. 🙁

OK, PH-NKD is an AT-6A so falls under the TCDS so qualifies for N reg over here. There is a UK T-6D which is migrating to France to continue its rebuild which will also be transferring from the G-reg to the N-reg in due course

That Dutch Harvard , ex PH-NKD , indeed now flies with the registration N13FY since 1993 or so.

“F” sort of rhymes with “FireTruck”. :dev2: ,
and the “Y” is used to point at someone/some Dutch Aviation Authority… 😉

If there is a T-6 on the N reg in Holland then by rights it should be a NAA manufactured T-6 not a Canadian manufactured Harvard. Only the NAA manufactured T-6s are covered under the TCDS so are eligible for a Standard Normal CofA, so can be operated outside of the US on the N-reg. Canadian built airframes have to go Experimental when on the N-reg, so by rights should not be flying outside of US airspace (unless on some transitory or short-term exemption). Of course, the lines get kind of blurred……..

That does not surprise me. I worked for an FTO years ago, and the rules as interpreted by our CAA didn’t match other EU/ EEC countries. Thereby creating a mismatch in the way we could compete with foreign FTOs. I did notice that Franco Actis Harvard was registered in Switzerland even though he is italian. Not to mention the number of Yak trainers around europe with russian or baltic “flags”. Is there not also a Harvard/ Texan in the Netherlands with an N# that kinda sums up the frustration?

T J

Well said Archer. Governmental interpretation, erring on the ridiculous. With mitigation of perceived possible judicial risks leading policies that used to be based on common sense and an actual understanding of daily operations of historic aircraft.

Other organizations are affected. DDA has sold one of its DC3s some time ago. Permits for foreign registered historic aircraft based in the Netherlands not meeting Dutch regulations are no longer issued by IL&T (with in many cases no way of getting it on the Dutch register either, so effectively grounded in Amsterdam FIR).

The number of Annex-II aircraft fleeing abroad are on the rise. Based at airfield just across the border, or sold alltogether. This counts for aircraft from BGA registered gliders up to bigger metal like Yaks and An-2s.

Sad and unnecessary.

Nothing to do with the EU, the Cat and other aircraft are registered under Dutch regulations, specially written for historic aircraft. The problem is that although the rules haven’t changed, they are being interpreted differently by the authorities.

Since it is also a member of the EU, and thus would have similar regulations, I would guess that Belgium would be as bad.

So what does this do for the other Dutch organizations? Are they also in dire straits due to new regulations? Any chance of moving across to Belgium, or are they just as bad?

T J

Most unfortunate.
No other Euro organization willing to take it on, like Red Bull?

What about the political realm, perhaps creating a set of rules for operating vintage aircraft?
Not first time these living museums were hurt by rules meant for for-profit airlines.

This is so sad. I wanted to fly in this and they are such a great bunch.

Catalina C-FHHR / PH-PBY displayed at 3 Flying Legends shows at Duxford IIRC – in 1995, 1997 and 2006. Here are a couple of pictures taken in 1995 and 2006.

Catalina Y-74 C-FHHR
Duxford 1995

Catalina 16-218 PH-PBY
Duxford 2006