Dutch Catalina at Southend

😀

PH-PBY was operating from EHLE again today.
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Haven’t been on here for a while. The eight month ‘detachment’ to Duxford has something to do with that.

Anyway, when I saw C-FHHR mentioned, I had a wry chuckle as memories came flooding back.

“Hey, camlobe. Wanna come for a flight?” asked the chap who was staying in the same hotel as me. Never one to refuse an opportunity to go flying, and as the weather was below our minima for a flight test following the replacement of the port engine on our Dakota, I readily accepted.

We taxied out, Hans, the KLM 747 pilot getting checked out was in the left seat, my hotel drinking buddy was in the right seat, and I had somehow managed to stand, jamming myself into the narrow ‘doorway’, my head in front of the fuel tank selectors, allowing me a view out of the windscreens. Then ATc asked if we could do a flyby of the tower as there was a party of school kids visiting. My buddy heartily agrees the request, and we line up and go. Hans flies the big old bird smoothly and considerately. As we circle the airfield, my buddy says to Hans “drop down and aim between the windsock and the tower”. “OK” says Hans and maintains a perfect 200 feet AGL. “Go on, drop it down”. “OK”. Still 200 feet AGL.

” I have control”. Stick shoved forward, windscreen full of grass, and I am now realising how mortal and fragile human flesh is, and asking myself what colour is adrenaline? And then we level out. And I am convinced that the lower half of the aircraft must be subterrainian. For the first time in my life, I am in an aircraft with the wheels retracted, and I am looking UP at a windsock. Hans is quiet, but sweating profusely. Stick back, and a windscreen full of sky. Phew. “You have control” and a non-eventful flight followed in C-FHHR, the worlds oldest airworthy PBY.

That evening in the hotel bar in Eindhoven, I ask my buddy what he guessed our keel clearance was? Without any delay, he matter-of-factly stated “eight inches”.

Chuck Ellsworth and I continued to drink more beer.

camlobe

Only flown in an amphibious aircraft once before and that was 25+ years ago. Sounds like fun. Thanks.

T J

Thanks

Thank you Alan; yes they do land it on water regularly. Only they try to avoid using the wingtip floats as much as possible to prevent unnecessary wear on the mechanisms.

Thanks for the heads up guys, I have just booked 3 seats for myself, my son and son in law. Looking forward to the trip. I wonder if it will equal the thrill of the Sandringham trip from Calshot in 1975…..

QP

Thank you Alan; yes they do land it on water regularly. Only they try to avoid using the wingtip floats as much as possible to prevent unnecessary wear on the mechanisms.

Lovely picture Jur. Do they still land it on water sometimes ?

The underside panel mentioned above, is also clearly visible in this photo, which I took at the Texel Airshow in the Netherlands in 2007.

I can certainly recommend it, I did it last year and it gave me goosebumps (from excitement :D). Especially the two splash and go’s on the IJsselmeer.

Yes, it’s still possible to get a ride in this Cat: http://booking.catalina-pby.nl/?month=07&year=2017&serviceID=16&action=changelang&lang=english

Thanks gents, much appreciated. And some reading for me to do!

As Archer’s link says………At some point in time it was converted to aerial firefighter by Field Aviation for Avalon Aviation. It was even deployed as far as Chile to perform this task !

There’s a good history (with photos) of this airframe on Ruud Leeuw’s site: http://www.ruudleeuw.com/phpby.htm

It confirms that the aircraft was converted to an aerial firefighter by Field Aviation for Avalon Aviation. There is a photo showing it in Avalon colours here: https://abpic.co.uk/pictures/view/1482432

Very cool to see! This machine always strikes me as being very well looked-after.

Forgive my ignorance: was this one formerly a waterbomber? Alan’s last, close-up photo shows a panel on the underside that I thought looked a bit waterbomber-y.

I remember when this PBY came in to Duxford for Legends one Saturday morning with paying passengers for the show. Left again that evening and returned next morning with a new crowd. Smart business model and gave more people the chance to sample a flight in it, while taking in a great airshow. Do they still sell rides in it back home?

T J

Is it the only one in the Netherlands ?

The only airworthy one. The National Military Museum at Soesterberg has one in storage.

Is it the only one in the Netherlands ?

On their Facebook page was mentioned that the Cat should be back at Lelystad around 18:00 hrs today.

Sorry I dont know. I think it was just today. Dont take my word on it though.

Damn (or should that be Edam?!), I live in the Medway area and I’d have loved to see this if I’d known about it. Do you know if she is doing any other flypasts for the anniversary??