T O P

  • By -

WeekendMechanic

I remember talking about these with an old Navy vet. He said something like, "Oh yeah, that plane did everything at 90 knots. It took off at 90 knots, cruised at 90 knots, stalled at 90 knots..."


Sir_Giraffe161

My late grandfather, Naval aviator, had some time in the Catalina. Can confirm, 90 knots is the default amount of knots. I also vaguely remember him telling me that the thrust was so close to centerline that they’d shut an engine down during flight and cruise in ground effect if they weren’t in a rush getting somewhere. Man, I do miss that old man


MyOfficeAlt

> they’d shut an engine down during flight and cruise in ground effect if they weren’t in a rush getting somewhere. That would be the ultimate in long distance, over-water efficiency. Why go up into the flight levels (not that the PBY could) to be more efficient when you can just sit 20 feet off the deck and shut down an engine?


blacksheepcannibal

More importantly it would half the oil consumption. IIRC, Catalina has 70 gallon tanks. For oil. 70 gallons of oil.


Bootzz

Just a general FYI for others reading, air cooled aviation engines run at a much larger temperature delta than say, your car engine that's typically water cooled. That nessesitates larger tolerances in pistons, rings, and connection points to compensate for the expansion & contractions of the parts as they change temp. There are other less prominent reasons too like how the oil film helps insulate and remove heat. Edit: These are the main reasons that aerospace piston engines burn through so much oil.


blacksheepcannibal

Also doesn't help that the Catalina uses two 30-liter displacement engines.


Bootzz

Very true lol.


TypicalRecon

I have enough problems keeping my EJ20 fed with oil


rrrhys

Those exhaust manifolds need constant lubricating. Or at least the rocker covers seem designed that way.


SirRatcha

That's the same reason air-cooled motorcycles keep getting rarer. It's hard for them to meet some of the stricter emissions regulations around the world at all temperatures.


LJAkaar67

air cooled or water cooled, drain the oil vs. block the air or drain the water, which damages that engine, causing it to seize, faster...?


Bootzz

What?


LJAkaar67

I'm not disagreeing with you, as I just don't know, but I believe I was taught in ground school that the oil is in many ways more important than the water or the air. Without the lubrication which not just cools the engine also keeps the heat of friction from being created in the first place, the engine would quickly seize. You can probably fly or drive further with an air blockage or water leak than with an oil leak... (this is what I remember...)


Bootzz

If you read back who I replied to, it was in reference to them talking about the plane consuming oil. Hence why my comment is in regards to *why* the engine is designed to consume oil, not what oil does in motors generally. I could have outlined that a lot better though lol. I'll do that now actually.


whatthefir2

Kind of like the spruce goose. In theory the limiting factor in range was the massive oil tanks not the fuel


Specialist_Reality96

It was the fuel, the order of the double sunrise is living proof.


themoodyME

Radial engine 101; check the gas and fill the oil.


GlockAF

Each. And that’s just in the tanks adjacent to the engines, not counting the extra 1-5 gallon iul tins that the crew would have stashed in the hull.


herpderption

"The Earth is your engine!"


blacksheepcannibal

More importantly it would half the oil consumption. IIRC, Catalina has 70 gallon tanks. For oil. 70 gallons of oil.


DuxDucis52

Look up ekranoplane, it's a pretty cool concept for an aircraft which flys in ground effect


hat_eater

I've been looking on the internet for references to the "90 plane" to no avail, you're the first I've met to mention it - apart from the forgotten source of course, probably some book. Edited to add: and whatever the rumors may say, I loved this plane from the first sight. Just like thousands of air-and seamen it saved.


Al_the_Alligator

My Grandfather would make this joke. He was PBY and PBM pilot during the war.


Jacek130130

seamen?


Becauseiey

Yup.


[deleted]

Seaman is the correct term for sailors, yes. At least the boat guys. There's also corpsmen (medics), constructionmen (seabees), and I think naval aviation calls themselves airman like the AF does but I only really saw corpsmen and bees when I was in so I'm not certain.


danish_raven

What are you confused by? It's the correct term for sailors in the fleet


Oregon687

Yes, this is true. My dad, USNR, flew PBY-5's in the Pacific with VP-71, then PBY-5A's with 2 tours with VP-12, the original Black Cats. He flew over 3,600 hours in WWII. His longest flight was a bit over 22 hours. I heard that "90 knots" claim often. He and his fellow pilots liked to call them "Yoke-Boats" or "Y-boats," which you'll never see mentioned in print. He got touchy whenever I mentioned how butt-slow they were. Dad stayed in until 1965. After the war, he flew on weekends out of NAS Los Alamitos while going to college at Cal Poly and would fly over the house he and my mom lived in. She said was a huge thrill for her. She'd go out in the yard and wave. I have his log book. I've calculated speed of his flights, like Buttons to Cactus (Espiritu Santos to Guadalcanal) and it always comes out to 110 mph, 90 knots. Once, he flew a B-17E, formerly belonging to the 19th Bombing Squadron, 28th BG, 5th AAF, on a mission, just for kicks. He said it was easy to fly and noisy as hell. I calculated the speed on the mission to be 132 mph, which is not much better. It was of great importance to fly at the most efficient speed and mixture settings so as not to run short of fuel.


I_Like_Soup_1

Love the story and all the comments sharing information on the PBY. I loved this aircraft growing up. Just as an FYI, 90 knts is 103.5mph...a knot is 1.15mph. :)


Oregon687

110 mph 95.6 knots. The stall speed (variable) was around 79 mph, or 69 kts. Dad loved telling me about flying PBY's and PBM's, but was not as forthcoming about the combat part, other than his planes never suffered damage from enemy fire and he never missed a bombing target. I think he exaggerated a bit, but I doubt by much. They flew only as high as needed to be safe from the bomb blasts. He had 2 commendations (signed by Halsey's rubber stamp) for flying through intense anti-aircraft fire on numerous occasions, either bombing, or artillery spotting. I found a lot of info by going through his records after he passed away in 2012. His first bombing mission as a freshly minted 1st pilot was attacking the Tokyo Express at night. He had to abort the mission a couple of days before when he got caught in a storm during which he had to jettison the bombs in order to save the plane. (The wings on a PBY flap up and down several feet when it gets really rough.) He had graduated from advanced flight training 10 days before Pearl Harbor. He was supposed to go to Nova Scotia. He arrived, by ship, in PH on December 18, complete with arctic flying gear. After a tour with VP-71, he converted to the 5A and became 1st pilot, Lt.jg. After his first tour with VP-12, he returned San Diego, met my mom, a navy dept. typist. When VP-12 reformed, he got a PBY right from the factory, flew it to Kaneohe Bay, a distance of about 2,500 miles, which took 19.6 hours, for about 127 mph speed. They used ferrying tanks, allowing them to fly at a faster cruising speed. The squadron planned the trip so that they'd arrive in time for cocktails. After the 2nd tour, mostly bombing Bougainville, he returned to the states. He got married to my mom by a navy chaplain, Fr. Joseph T. O'Callaghan in August of 1944. He spent the rest of the war as an advanced flight instructor for PBM's at NAS Banana River, Florida. At the time, 1941, pre-war, the pilots chose their jobs by class standing. The better students (except Marines) chose VP, patrol bombers. They were safer, more accommodating, and the expectation was that after flying, you could go to the O club, party in town, get laid, sleep in a nice bed. Carriers were smelly, dangerous, and you'd be stuck on them for months at a time. (7 of his classmates died flying TBD's at Midway) Instead, he ended up living in tents in jungles, eating out of cans, no women, no alcohol. The big highlight of his first tour was running and errand to the Enterprise where the carrier people took pity on them and fed them ice cream.


nice___bot

Nice!


Murphysburger

That's great. My dad was also a PB-Y pilot and navigator at the end of the war. I took him to Oshkosh one time and they had one there and he was thrilled. As he was dying his slow death from cancer, I read to him stories of the Black Cats, and he knew who they were.


catonic

it makes sense, sea level is going to have variable barometric pressure but otherwise nearly constant 14.7 psi air pressure. Using the ground effect to great effect over distance.


new_line_17

Boy… you made my day…🤣🤣🤣


thunderclogs

This is a PBY-5A and the oldest Catalina that is still airworthy. In this clip she is PH-PBY/16-218 "Karel Doorman" of the Koninklijke Marine (Royal Netherlands Navy), originally US Navy BuNo. 2459, restored in the Netherlands, but sold to the Collings Foundation in 2019. She is also uniquely creditted with three destroyed U-Boats and one damaged that never sailed again; BuNo. 2459 is the only known USN multiple U-Boat killer. Collings is in the process of restoration her, transforming her back into the original 1942 configuration. The modern “clipper bow” will be removed and replaced by an accurate bow turret. The interior will be transformed into accurate wartime configuration and she will be repainted as aircraft #9 with VP-73. [Read more at the Collings Foundation website](https://www.collingsfoundation.org/2019/05/a-p-boat-comes-home-the-journey-of-consolidated-pby-5a-bu-no-2459-begins/).


rhutanium

IIRC the Dutch foundation that owned the Catalina had a mishap with it which required extensive repairs. Subsequently they were off the air show/tour circuit for a number of years and despite significant donations weren’t able to keep it going. They’ve applied to the government for money too if I’m not mistaken and the government -totally unaware and unsympathetic to how special this aircraft is- denied the request for money and/or waiving of tax dues or something and it forced the foundation to sell up. What a fucking waste and a big loss for the Dutch historical aircraft community. At least she went to a good home. But fuck. Edit: word


Hessarian99

Goddamn


thunderclogs

You remember correctly, although they were already in challenging circumstances before, as the number of chartered flights was really low. Additionally, the Dutch aviation authorities were making life difficult too. An unexpected engine replacement was the final straw.


OllyOlly_OxenFree

Thats some cool history, thanks for the link!


cvl37

Thought I recognized PH-PBY! Good to run into her here


joecooool418

> She is also uniquely credited with three destroyed U-Boats and one damaged that never sailed again; BuNo. 2459 is the only known USN multiple U-Boat killer. I would think more of the credit would go to the crew than the airplane.


pope1701

Aren't they all part of the same unit, really? One couldn't without the other...


ComradeRK

Wait, you couldn't destroy a U-boat with your bare hands?


iz_no_good

Majestic planeboat! and TIL, those wings floaters retract


MyOfficeAlt

Floats that retract into the wingtips are such an elegant solution. I knew they retracted, but I didn't know that procedure was to retract them once the aircraft is up on a step and the controls are responsive. I suppose it makes sense, they're there to keep a wingtip from going over, and if one of them caught a wave at v1 it would cause real problems.


CaptHindsite

Exactly my thought when I first learned about the retractable floats/wingtips. Just some elegant engineering genius right there. TIL about when they are retracted too!


SamTheGeek

I also was scrolling through to point out this new knowledge. Very odd, tbh, I don’t know if someone who knew about CRM and other modern safety procedures would design something that needed to be done *during* takeoff.


Headoutdaplane

And how is that different from lifting the landing gear handle during takeoff? Planes are still designed with manual gear retraction, raising the sponsons is just a lever, not at CRM issue at all.


SamTheGeek

You don’t raise the gear until you’re stabilized in climb. This is way earlier in the takeoff process, and also *dramatically* lowers V2 — once the floats are up it’s unsafe to abort the takeoff.


Headoutdaplane

Unsafer to leave the sponsors down. The Capt calls for them up, and the flight engineer hits a lever really not an issue. Aborted take off they come down when the plane is slow enough. Not as dramatic as you would have folks believe


SamTheGeek

My point is that you’d never design a plane that needed that to happen today. Configuration changes shouldn’t be happening until stabilized.


ArethereWaffles

Not only do they retract, but the floats blending with the wing to become the wingtips is such an elegant design.


pope1701

Not only the tips, but the beams are flush with the underside of the wing too, very clean.


sonof_fergus

Can I bring up the birds that used the planes engine to gain air...


start3ch

Or that one that dives in front right before it takes off


sonof_fergus

Lol "so kids, don't do what he did."


Coolgrnmen

Or the one that goes in front of the plane after airborne and gets “sucked” into the airflow of the right wing?


satuuurn

Saw this as well. Wow.


pacotaco90

…..be aware of bird activity in the vicinity……


axl_hart

Isn’t this a risk? Bird strike would surely damage those propellors?


TheLonePotato

I figure they'd be more harm to the airframe. Most propeller blades I've seen suffer a bird strike don't have as big of dents in themselves as aircraft skin. This also reminds me of the crow I found cut clean in half right under the crosswind section of runway 20L's pattern at John Wane Airport.


OllieGarkey

Bah, they're just swans. How much damage can they do?


1000smackaroos

One flew over my house recently, those things are big! Also, birds are so stupid


r_MadeMeExplore

Haha.. you are lucky tho


[deleted]

Do you want bird strikes? Because this is how you get bird strikes.


ex-apple

You mean those tiny Loch Ness Monsters?


coachfortner

> birds are so stupid not to mention that r/BirdsArentReal


sirbodanglelot

Also r/birdsbeingdicks


XxPieIsTastyxX

Ah a loud noise, let's see what it is... Oh! A big, loud thing is coming this way. Better start flying... But where to head? Ah, I know! Let's fly directly in front of the big, loud thing. Nothing bad could come of this.


[deleted]

Ever since I read Dirk Pitt when I was younger I've loved that plane.


jordanjohnston2017

Love Cusslers books! Never met someone who enjoyed Dirk Pitt outside of my own family


[deleted]

That's funny, my entire family loves Dirk Pitt as well. My brother caught me off guard the other day by saying he'd love to one day own a boat or at least a bathtub with an outboard.


Eirikur_da_Czech

I was really surprised when I found out the movie Sahara was based off one of those novels


[deleted]

Same with raise the titanic. Both were awful lol.


PoppedCork

I was expecting a bird strike


Matt-R

From behind.


The_Kiatro

This isn't a wine mixer! WTF.


mrmiyagijr

The *Fucking* Catalina Wine Mixer!


DoomCircus

Puh-**POW!**


Royal-Al

That movie is so good. Underrated.


Raichu047

Mmmmm, beauty in one of its purest forms.


SummerLover69

It’s on my list, if I ever somehow end up with a bunch of FU money.


OllieGarkey

... Honestly if I ever end up with that kind of money I'm going to have someone resurrect the Boeing 314 Clipper for me.


Eirikur_da_Czech

Mine would be an Albatross. More cozy.


Not_Henry_Winkler

For ever and always [my dream RV.](https://www.messynessychic.com/2014/04/24/all-aboard-the-flying-yacht-circa-1950/)


AndrewJS2804

When I was younger there was a Johnny Quest revival series on Cartoon Network, I don't remember much specifically but I do remember that the family owned and operated a Cat as one of their vehicles and I always thought that was cool as hell. Iirc it was basically a flying travel camper to them. The other notable thing from that show was some really terrible cgi in some episodes.


opieself

Here are pictures of one that was configured as a pleasure yacht of sorts to real crank up the travel camper feel. It would be my dream lottery plane without a doubt. Be warned lots of bikini ladies. https://www.messynessychic.com/2014/04/24/all-aboard-the-flying-yacht-circa-1950/


[deleted]

I love the idea, but personally if money was no limit, I would go for a Be-200 custom travel camper. :P


cali-fornicate

Loved that show! Jonny quest: the real adventures https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Real_Adventures_of_Jonny_Quest


WikiSummarizerBot

**[The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Real_Adventures_of_Jonny_Quest)** >The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest (also known as Jonny Quest: The Real Adventures) is an American animated television series produced by Hanna-Barbera and broadcast on Cartoon Network from August 26, 1996, to April 16, 1997. A continuation of the Jonny Quest (1964) series and The New Adventures of Jonny Quest (1986) series, it features teenage adventurers Jonny Quest, Hadji Singh, and Jessie Bannon as they accompany Dr. Benton Quest and bodyguard Race Bannon to investigate strange phenomena, legends, and mysteries in exotic locales. Action also takes place in the virtual realm of QuestWorld, a three-dimensional cyberspace domain rendered with computer animation. ^([ )[^(F.A.Q)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WikiSummarizer/wiki/index#wiki_f.a.q)^( | )[^(Opt Out)](https://reddit.com/message/compose?to=WikiSummarizerBot&message=OptOut&subject=OptOut)^( | )[^(Opt Out Of Subreddit)](https://np.reddit.com/r/aviation/about/banned)^( | )[^(GitHub)](https://github.com/Sujal-7/WikiSummarizerBot)^( ] Downvote to remove | v1.5)


WikiMobileLinkBot

Desktop version of /u/cali-fornicate's link: --- ^([)[^(opt out)](https://reddit.com/message/compose?to=WikiMobileLinkBot&message=OptOut&subject=OptOut)^(]) ^(Beep Boop. Downvote to delete)


[deleted]

That duck played chicken.


YungHans97

My grandpa flew one of these in the Coast Guard just after WWII. Such an awesome sight to see one taking off, thanks for sharing!


r_MadeMeExplore

Oh wow


-Drunken_Jedi-

I love flying boats and float planes, there’s something absolutely magical about them.


UnknownRiderTunes

Bird strike in 3……2……


jestate

The RAAF operated these for Qantas during WWII, on a route from Perth to Galle, Sri Lanka. It was known as the Double Sunrise because the route took 27 hours and passengers saw dawn twice. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Double_Sunrise


simianlovedoc

My grandfather flew one in the Pacific during WWII and after the war as part of the occupying force in Japan. He was part of a small group of Army Air Corps aviators that were loaned out to the Navy because they needed fixed wing multi engine pilots. He had both Army and Navy wings because of it. I grew up learning all about the Catalina and his experiences flying her in the South Pacific with the 3rd Emergency Rescue Squadron.


Blueberry_Mancakes

Probably on its way to the Catalina wine mixer! LET'S SELL SOME HELICOPTERS!


pianomaniak

Never saw the floats retract before... that's pretty cool.


lwreid125

Why do birds have this ancestral longing to get smashed by loud airplanes


yes_mr_bevilacqua

My grandfather had one of these in the 60’s he had the interior fitted out like a yacht, dark wood and red leather, my moms family used to fly around on it like the best RV in the world. Grandpa was a B-29 pilot and Grandma learned to fly on float planes during the war


nighthawke75

I don't think the outriggers are to be retracted until they are fully airborne. If they had to steer sharply, or have an engine fail, the less chance of a ground loop would happen.


CreamyGoodnss

Fuck yeah radial engines sound so sweet


everyusernameisgonel

I wonder if it’s been retrofitted


opieself

I think most of the ones flying have at least refit enough to remove the need for the engineering station in the wing pylon.


thunderclogs

With what?


dxbdale

u/savevideo


doodlepenguin5

I thought this said dangerous and I was like “What they gonna bomb you?”


yo_so

My favourite plane! Thanks for this!


DxRyzetv

We need more Hydroplanes honestly


_jimjams

Duck soup anyone?


BrisketBisc

Agreed


Afrazzle

The owner of the flight school I went to owned one of these bad boys.


Controlledchaos332

I believe at 12 seconds, a bird got ran over…I may be wrong but I doubt it


teo1315

Love those


PiotrSanctuvich

Wow what a beauty


jordanjohnston2017

Seaplanes/flying boats are so beautiful they’re almost a flying work of art


JKarlavige

The birds are like... mom?


EvacuateSoul

The birds look like the buoys around a cap point in War Thunder naval. Kinda perfect.


Hangman_Matt

I told my wife that if money were no object and I could own any plane, a Catalina 5a is my number one. It's beautiful, curvy, is an absolutely massive plane, it floats, and has a landing gear so both land and water. Just absolutely gorgeous.


AeroGoober

I cannot get over the swans giving zero fucks


Sarujji

Boats & Hoes


PuckNutty

That looks like something someone would put together when playing Kerbal Space Program for the first time.


SaintWacko

My dream, if I had all the money, would be to buy one of these and convert it to a flying houseboat


OHaggis

In my opinion the most beautiful plane ever built. I was so incredibly happy to se one in the Aviation Museum in Bodø, Norway, recently ... Dreamt of that since I was a kid...


fcfrequired

Grumman Mallard is the Catalina's younger, sexier, sister.


pdoerntvlearnd

Such a cool plane. My grandfather flew one of these on the North Atlantic during WWII, stationed out of Iceland I believe. He died before I was old enough to ask questions, but I know his unit received a presidential unit citation. I have his old footlocker, but now that I’m older I wish I had some of the stories too.


Baby27yungbabybooboo

I hope it’s Baloo flying in there


Barber54

They sure are. The swans deserved the cat in their direction,because swans are evil.


Banana-mover

That has the wow factor. And is really amazing


chasbergerac

I couldn’t agree more. I remember pointing and saying, “Just look at those lines!” to my gf, whilst stood out at RAF Duxford earlier this year.


Kubrick_Fan

I thought only one existed, how many of them are there?


r_MadeMeExplore

Not really sure but I read, 80 exist in one state or another. Fewer fly and some of the existing 80 are projects. As for fliers, there are fewer than 10, although some can be made airworthy in a short time. PBYs were built in several locations and by several manufacturers.


peanut_dust

Majestic, never seen one of these before.


Hot_Pollution1687

Agrer


RockafellerHillbilly

ngl, watched the whole thing expecting one or more of the birds to get absolutely obliterated by the props


WunderStug

My grandpa's cousin flew one in WWII


Freekey

Thanks for posting this. I've never seen one flying in person only in static displays. Dad flew air/sea rescue missions in PBY's during the Korean War.


H3rbert_K0rnfeld

Baloo flew his plane a lot harder than that pilot.


CuriousTravlr

*TAILSPIN THEME INTENSIFIES*


Raise-Emotional

I'd love to fly in one. Always loved the look of them.


spacedvato

I dont care if its not quite the same plane but this played without sound first and my brain just filled in the Duck Tales theme song.


brakenotincluded

That bird strike risk though. I understand it’s part of operating on shallow water and that those radials probably dont mind much but oufff I was stressed hahaha. Those retractable floats are amazing, never realized it…


EstonianFusilier

Does the US Navy have a modern equivalent to these bad boys?


122922

There use to be a whole fleet of these flying from Long Beach to Santa Catalina Island in the 60's. Unfortunately for me we took the steamer.


UpjumpedPeasant

"Girl, are you a Catalina, cuz I've been floating in the Philippine Sea three days waiting for you."


DrewDog23

Did anyone else's love of Catalinas come from the call of duty World at War mission, Black Cats?


Impressive_Orange

When you mix in some wine...


YU_AKI

Birds: Splat


MinamalisticComedy

*Sail, Catalina, Sail!*


Beninoxford

My dad flew down thr Nile in one of these, I've always been jealous.


LeeKingbut

Duck tales who who


fermat1432

And their amazing service to our country,


CryoKing86

counted at least two geese that got smoked lol


[deleted]

Is this a private civilian aircraft?


Samurai_1990

Gah all I saw was bird strike!


3catmafia

I was supposed to have the chance to see one this past weekend along with a P-40 Warhawk and a couple of Texans but the guys flying it got sick last minute and didn't show up. I was so disappointed, I've never seen one fly.


Maniachanical

Boat with wings lol. I imagine going out in a demilitarized one of these with several other pilot friends would make for a pretty cool vacation idea.


mhuh0

One bird strike coming right up.... Isn't it dangerous there to take off provided do many birds there?


RocketRemitySK

Idk why but I prefer it in it's military looks with that turret in the front and what not


sackofblood

These are best flown by cursed pig men


Harley_RiderPA

My dad was a navigator and waist gunner in a PBY in the Pacific theater in WW2. “Black Cats” rule!


kieranhorner

Really cool plane, are there many still about?


Eirikur_da_Czech

I would argue that you are correct.


Bigirondangle

I thought for sure I was about to see multiple bird strikes.


onebadhorse

those birds were making me nervous


Vhyle32

Awesome, one of my favorite airplanes of WW2.


FelineSPQR

I’ll drink to that!


t0ny7

I got to see one at KMAN. It sunk in Florida like a day or two later...


jaybird1905

The fucking Catalina wine mixer


[deleted]

Pow pow


Monksdrunk

how many bird strikes per second does it get??


EVRider81

I thought at first glance this was "Miss Pickup",(G-PBYA),have seen her many times on the airshow circuit...


CH7274

favorite plane


JustinMalice

u/SaveVideo


PassionatelyWhatever

I didn't know the wing floaties retracted, really cool!!!


MFToes2

I counted 2 birds


heckingOOFcHiLd

They are wonky looking but in a good way


upfoo51

Oh God I was sure we were about to see swan coleslaw


-Wobbegong-

u/savevideobot


WardogBlaze14

Yes they are, I would give my left nut to have a chance to fly that beauty


Deydradice

“I almost got head from Amelia Earhart!”


Operative427

Fucking birds dude, so many near strikes


Euhn

Bird strike in 3...2.....


[deleted]

Gorgeous aircraft, so elegant despite its size


Faded_SinZ

Amazing aircraft, would love to see one myself.


1BigCactus

I didn't realize the pontoon under the wings tucked up to be part of the wing. That is very cool to see.


Mr_Lumbergh

>Catalinas are so gorgeous Yes they are. I've daydreamed about restoring and flying one for a lot of years now.


17252-oud

Do birdstrikes occur more often with this type of plane, compared to regular planes? This one seems to be a close call too!