PBY-6A 64107 sold

PBY-6A, Bu No 64107, the last Catalina produced, has been sold after spending decades in storage and undergoing airframe work at the Grant Country Airport in Moses Lake, Washington.

The aircraft is extremely original and has a fully equipped interior. I met the seller several years ago when he was working on the aircraft, he said it has  a full production interior and was never stripped for civil use. My brief tour seemed to bear that out.

It is the subject of a series of YouTube videos produced by the seller.

After being surplussed, (the aircraft was originally put aside for the then nascent National Air Museum, but was rejected because it was not  a “typical” PBY…probably meaning a -5) the aircraft was purchased by  a firefighting operator but aside from its blisters being removed (since replaced along with the above the cockpit radar antenna) it was never converted into a water bomber.

The new owner will be moving it by road to his facility to finish the restoration (I know new engines are on the “to do” list, I don’t know what else needs to be done. I understand it has newer fabric and the airframe is in good condition. I also do not know the condition of the electrical and hydraulic systems).

Once completed, it will be operated by the museum.

The new owner will make an official statement in January….which I’ll send with photos to fly past and Aeroplane magazines.

The new owner will be on the lookout for finishing advice.

So something to look forward to.