Russian Catalinas

Thanks everyone. Quite an interesting one. I heard the ‘over 1000 built by the Russians’ on the voice-over on the 1998 Wanaka DVD. I guess Ian Brodie had his facts askew.

Did anyone else licence build the Cat apart from the Russians and Canadians?

Interesting. I didn’t know the russians had built this bird. Are there any survivors of the russian built variant?

J.V.

One of the Soviet-built GST actually ended up with the RAF, according to http://www.pbycat.org/chronp1.htm :

Of one GST though, there is some history that is documented. On the 22nd of November 1941, a GST landed at Morphou Bay, Cyprus. The aircraft was apparently flown by a Soviet sailor with, it is said, no previous flying experience. The sailor had taken off from Sevastopol and had flown amazingly across the Crimea, Black Sea, and Turkey. The aircraft was pressed into RAF service and wore the RAF serial HK850. It remained unused in Aboukir, Egypt, until blown ashore in a gale on the 23rd of February, 1943.

It’s very unlikely that any GST have survived though: retired in the early 1950s (when the Be-6 entered service), they were very likely all cut up between 1956 and 1960.

Slightly off topic, but you can fly in a Catalina and (weather permitting) experience a landing on water. A half hour flight will set you back 179 euros. During easter, march 28, you can fly one hour for 279 euros.

phone: (+0031) 0900 766 38 58 (25 cents per minute)
fax: (+0031) 0320 289 841
https://secure.aviodrome.nl/rondvluchten/shop/index.php

Indeed it does say that! One of the links above gives the total number constructed in the USSR as 27 GSTs.

The GST – Gidro Samolet Transport/Hydro Aircraft Transport was built under licence by Beriev and 27 were produced.

It was also called MP-7 and KM-2 with different enigines and equipment.

The Soviet Union also received 138 PBN-1 and 48 PBY-6A under Lend-Lease. The ASCC reporting name was ‘Mop’.

Ken

Indeed it does say that! One of the links above gives the total number constructed in the USSR as 27 GSTs.

I tried Babel Fish and almost wished I hadn’t!

“the total production of all versions lif until September 1945 and amounted to 3272 stucco, nict taken into consideration production in the USSR.”

I think that means “The total production of all versions, until production stopped in September 1945, amounted to 3272 units, not taking into account production in the USSR”. Why it translates “Stuck” (pieces, items, whatever) as “stucco” (plaster!) is beyond me, though…

Adrian

It seems 185 examples were delivered under Lend Lease.

“Die Gesamtproduktion aller Versionen lif bis September 1945 und betrug 3272 Stuck, nict eingerechnet die Produktion in der UdSSR.”

If I knew what this said I believe it would answer your question.

Mark

I just heard that the Russians built over 1000 Catalina flying boats under licence during the war. Who built them? What was their Russian name or designation?

Do any still exist? Any flying?

I know that they took delivery of a lot of US-built ones. Soviet pilots did the ferry flights from Bermuda, as I recall.

Alistair

I just heard that the Russians built over 1000 Catalina flying boats under licence during the war. Who built them? What was their Russian name or designation?

Do any still exist? Any flying?

I would query the ‘1000’ built !!!

They were known as the GST in Soviet service.

I will dig out some more info when I get home.

I found this link :- http://www.csd.uwo.ca/~pettypi/elevon/gustin_military/db/sov/GSTAMTOR.html

and http://www.catalina.demon.nl/pby/redstar.htm

Ken