DanielSmall update with some good news for the Catalina project., showing how anyone with some work, can make a small contribution to getting the aircraft back into the air.
As part of my assistance towards helping the Catalina return to flight, beside some media work to help raise profile more across the world, i have gained the project support from Dulux Paints in the last month, which will see once discussions are complete at some point in the future, some supplies of paint all going well donated to help repaint the Catalina into a suitable colour scheme.
I have had a working relationship with Dulux Paints for nearly 3 years from my various heritage railway work, having obtained 2 NSW railway projects nearly 230 litres of free pain,t in return for Dulux Paints getting positive promotion.
Hopefully this free paint will be achieved also with the Catalina shortly and eventually a new paint scheme will be painted on, to suit its intended role as a warbird, which is to ensure the legacy of the RAAF Catalina crews are remembered at Rathmines and around Australia.
And a small reminder, it is now 1 month until the HARS Catalina “Black Cat” is planned to alight on Lake Macqauire and visit Rathmines to be put on display as the core display part of the Catalina Festival.
Phil Buckley
DanielToday i caught up with a few of the hard working CFML volunteers who are restoring the Catalina VH-CAT at Bansktown Airport, Sydney.
See the 30 or so photos i took – https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=oa.10151102318693752&type=1 .
They were working on cockpit systems when i dropped by and they have done more repairs to the tailplane in the last few months.
Interest in the CFML Catalina flying project and associated Catalina Festival at Rathmines and the planned HARS visit with their Catalina in November 2012 to Rathmines….is seeing more people taking an interest in the heritage of the RAAF Catalina force from WW2 each month.
DanielToday i caught up with a few of the hard working CFML volunteers who are restoring the Catalina VH-CAT at Bansktown Airport, Sydney.
See the 30 or so photos i took – https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=oa.10151102318693752&type=1 .
They were working on cockpit systems when i dropped by and they have done more repairs to the tailplane in the last few months.
Interest in the CFML Catalina flying project and associated Catalina Festival at Rathmines and the planned HARS visit with their Catalina in November 2012 to Rathmines….is seeing more people taking an interest in the heritage of the RAAF Catalina force from WW2 each month.
DanielThanks for clarification on the item it is much appreciated, as we all learn from many across the world new bits of information every day.
DanielA correction issued by the Museum – “The Skyraider we acquired through the South African Air Force Museum is ex Gabon – West Africa not ex Goa”
DanielHere is an extensive article i have taken around 3.5months to put together…. as i am assisting with trying to get the CFML Catalina back to flying status ….. i recently through my connections and hard work have acquired a large potential sponsor for the project.
A condensed version of this story is expecting to go in the Australian Pilot magazine Oct-Nov 2012 edition all going well.
http://philbuckleytravels.blogspot.com.au/2012/09/rathmines-homecoming-ww2-catalina.html
Phil
DanielThis video film clip link has been supplied by Malcolm who is part of the efforts in the CFML project to get the Catalina back to flying.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJK8gOpOOHg
This film was shot back in 2008 when the CFML Catalina VH-CAT flew over and then did a touch and go at Lake Macquarie, NSW and also flew over the area of the former RAAF seaplane base at Rathmines.
The plan for the Catalina Festival November 3 2012 is at this stage, is looking to have the HARS Catalina do the same thing but this will taxi on the Lake after alighting and then use the aircraft ramp and come ashore at the Rathmines base for public open display….this is the drawcard event and will be the first time since 1950s such an event has been seen at the Lake..
At this stage it is not known if the CFML Catalina will be ready as well for the day and also alight on the Lake as well and come ashore for display… we are expecting to know more closer to the event.
My involvement with the Catalina Festival, will see me taking some of my very rarely seen RAAF WW2 flightgear along to educate up to maybe 10 classes of school children in the 2-3 days leading up to the Catalina Festival this year, so i can teach the kids about the RAAF flightgear as worn by the crews in the Catalina. I am expecting to be explaining why and how the specific gear was used.
I will also be present on the Catalina Festival day with my flightgear collection to show the local public what the gear was like in WW2, as most will have not seen such gear close up before.
As part of my volunteer help on the project, beside some media/magazine work i did recently, i have through my connections and hard work, gained a potential new sponsor to help with the restoration and we are working out some details at the moment as to what they will be doing. We should see a result not too far off all going well, in the near future regarding my bit of effort to help the restoration project.
I will keep you all informed as we progress closer to the main festival date.
Phil
DanielA small update on what is happening with the Catalina at Bankstown Airport – see the facebook page for photos and brief notes on what is being repaired at this point in time. https://www.facebook.com/groups/38244348751/
DanielAnd more warbirds photos from the show –http://www.network54.com/Forum/149674/message/1345720297/Migs+and+Polikarpovs
DanielThat is correct i pointed that out in the discussions. The CG and special effects people will need to overhaul any RAAF CAC Mk 30/32 Sabre a fair bit to give it a USAF F-86E/F look for any such movie.
At least the movie project is started – well has been for a few years underway in a planning stage – and the actors got a feel for what their role may wear. We have discussed a short trailer which will try and reflect the Korean war “scramble” mission and develop it from there if further funding comes into a full movie with action and reflect the true horror of war.
The RAAF 77Sqn which was co-located with tenant USAF units in Korea, may even appear with their Meteors in the movie (or the RAAF view of the war in Korea could end up being a separate movie someone is wishing to film i have heard).
DanielWould you like to HELP and donate money to get this Catalina back into the air before November 2012? Go to this link http://catalinaflying.org.au/donate.htm and follow the details , every bit helps preserve the RAAF and Australian legacy of WW2, which the Catalina played a major role in.
DanielUpdate – today i visited again the Catalina Flying Memorial Limited project at Bankstown Airport and while there was lucky to meet up with an important visitor who is connected to this very Catalina.
Various people from the CFML project as volunteers giving up their Saturday time, were busy fixing / resolving issues on the airframe and discussing future work tasks.
I then proceeded after the Bankstown visit to end up 2.hrs driving up to an airfield near western Newcastle and conducted with the kind help of a fellow Catalina enthusiast/pilot friend, a photographic sortie to record the former RAAF Rathmines seaplane base from the air.
See the the above events in the latest 9 photos added from today at the CFML facebook page – https://www.facebook.com/groups/38244348751/ .
If interested click join the group page and this will ensure you keep up to date and in touch with the project’s latest news as released onto facebook.
A reminder why we were all at Bankstown….. come November 2012, the former Rathmines base will come alive with the sights and sounds of the annual Catalina Festival.
Up to 10,000+ people are expected to visit and take in the views of the former base and enjoy themselves on a day out.
This years event tho will be worth circling on the calendar and attending, as a very special guest is planned to attend which will ensure the Catalina Festival event will capture the attention of heritage and aviation enthusiast across the world. It will also be a first in a long long time.
As part of this Festival the major planned attraction – will be the only flying (at this stage) Catalina warbird aircraft in Australia. The HARS Museum PBY “Felix” aka Black Cat, will fly over Rathmines and then will alight on Lake Macquarie, taxi and then come ashore up the old Catalina ramp as shown in the photo on facebook… all going well and be opened up for public display and internal viewing.
The core aim of the Festival over the last few years has been to raise the awareness and to assist in getting the currently based at Bankstown Airport, CFML Catalina back into the air.
The CFML is hopeful (pending some work projects on the aircraft and more/required money been raised by November 2012 ) aiming to also bring the currently painted in red and white paint scheme PBY Catalina up from Bankstown and do the same thing as is being planned for the HARS Catalina at the November 2012 Catalina Festival.
The ability to see 2 flying Catalina fly over, alight on the lake and taxi up the Catalina ramp is a sight many could see but to reach that outcome, the CFML needs your help!
If your interested in seeing the CFML Catalina get to its “home” base consider becoming a member of the Catalina Club today for only $50 and help preserve the memories of the RAAF Catalina operations for the future generations. The Catalina Club funds go towards getting the CFML project closer to their goal.
If interested in supporting the CFML project or membership visit the CFM webpage for further information – http://catalinaflying.org.au.
The Catalina Festival can also be followed at facebook link – https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rathmines-Catalina-Festival/137100446395385
regards
Phil
DanielThis photo has me very CURIOUS – https://picasaweb.google.com/114682566226043469349/Zdj_samolot?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCKjxkt6rkNTFKg&feat=directlink#5734889981343253970 – its a US built Kittyhawk from 1941/42 maybe so what is a aircraft part from Australia doing this aircraft? Does this mean this is a RAAF aircraft now?
Whats the reason a Australian company would supply Curtis with such a part doesnt seem right when the RAAF was importing P-40 and i am highly skeptical that Australia would export such items to US? Now if this was inserted into the aircraft in Australia before deployment to Africa???
DanielMore information on French use of Jap aircraft after WW2 see this link
Phil
DanielMore information on French use of Jap aircraft after WW2 see this link
Phil
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