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QANTAS Catalina on the way

Posted: Wed Oct 21, 2009 2:35 am
by Andy in West Oz
Has anyone been following the Cat Qantas has acquired in Spain or Portugal? The jury's still out as to whether they'll fly her as a 'Double Sunrise' Cat or a post-war 'airliner'.

As of Oct 17, she was in Thailand with a few issues.

A few pics here:
http://www.qfm.org.au/index.php?option= ... &Itemid=10

The story is she'll be kept active rather than going static at Longreach. Wouldn't it be great to see three Cats in formation?

Re: QANTAS Catalina on the way

Posted: Sun Jan 17, 2010 9:52 am
by rod mountford
Hi the Cat has arrived and I saw it recently out at Bankstown. It is owned by the following organisation. http://www.catalinaflying.org.au/restoration.htm Cheers Rod

Re: QANTAS Catalina on the way

Posted: Tue Jan 19, 2010 6:20 pm
by Andy in West Oz
Hi Rod

That's a different Cat that was in Australia before the QANTAS aircraft left Portugal. With the arrival of the QANTAS Cat, we'll have three airworthy ones here. How cool is that?

Andy

Re: QANTAS Catalina on the way

Posted: Wed Jan 20, 2010 4:20 am
by Boba
Having read of the three flying status Catalinas that will be in Australia once the Qantas aircraft arrives, just how many are there in Australia - including exhibits and where are they? I'll update the revised Darwin's Air War before it goes to the printer in the very near future.

With thanks in advance.

Bob Alford
Lampang Thailand

Re: QANTAS Catalina on the way

Posted: Sat Jan 23, 2010 12:31 am
by richard rudd
See Classic Wings Issue #73... Catalinas Downunder.
As listed....Consolidated PBY-5A BuAer48352 c/n 1714 A24-88 Aust Nat Aviation Museum Morabbin Vic. Fuselage, ex Murray River houseboat
....PBY-5A 44624 1988 RAAFA Museum Bull Creek WA.
Canadian Vickers Canso 11060 CV-369 ex Geoterrex VH-EXG, to RAAF Museaum Pt Cook Vic as A24-104
....PBY-6A 46644 2008 to Qantas Founders Museum Longreach Qld.
Boeing Canada PB2B 44248 61554 A24-385 Gordon Taylor's Frigate Bird II. Powerhouse Museum, Sydney.
.....PBY-6A 46665 2029. VH-CAT. For Rathmines Musuem, Lake McQuarie NSW.
.....PBY-5 08272 1186 A24-46 Private storage WA.
.....PBY-5 "A24-30" Lake Boga Flying Boat Museum Vic.
.....PBY-6A 46679 2043 "A24-362" HARS Albion Pk NSW.
And a couple more pvt Houseboats/ fuse relics.
HARS, Rathmines and Qantas machines to be kept flying.

cheers

Re: QANTAS Catalina on the way

Posted: Tue Jan 26, 2010 2:44 am
by Boba
Many thanks Richard. I don't think amny would realise just how many there are remaining and certainly not the numbers in Australia. I'll update DAW accordingly.

Many thanks again and

Cheers,

Bob Alford
Lampang Thailand

Re: QANTAS Catalina on the way

Posted: Wed Jan 27, 2010 5:38 am
by richard rudd
yes quite amazing how many. Will be good to see the flyers in action. The missions flown by the Black Cats to distant places, at low level in tropical
conditions at night, are incredible. Better have the nav and headings right !... or smack into an island, as some did. A dangerous enough game just doing that without the reception at the target end. Brave folk indeed.

Have a copy of DAW.. excellent pictures and a top read.!
I saw Toyoshima's BII-124 on Melville Island in '67. Shame so little of it made to the NT Aviation Heritage Centre.
Have some old pics somewhere.

rgds.

Re: QANTAS Catalina on the way

Posted: Thu Feb 11, 2010 8:03 pm
by Andy in West Oz
Finally got to see a Cat flying when the HARS one visited Temora recently. Really hit home just how slow and long the RAAF mining trips were. Here's some average pics on a very hot and heat shimmery day:

Image

Image

Image

Image

Darwin's Air War?

Re: QANTAS Catalina on the way

Posted: Thu Feb 11, 2010 8:06 pm
by Andy in West Oz
Sorry for the double pic above. This is the one I meant to post:

Image

Re: QANTAS Catalina on the way

Posted: Thu Feb 11, 2010 9:40 pm
by richard rudd
Nice pics What a graceful bird with those long wings. Will have to go someplace to see one in action. Bet it sounds good too.

Re: QANTAS Catalina on the way

Posted: Thu Feb 11, 2010 11:12 pm
by Andy in West Oz
Sounds lovely. HARS apparently have a nose turret for her as well her look will change again eventually.

Re: QANTAS Catalina on the way

Posted: Sat Oct 16, 2010 6:00 pm
by batman
The HARS aircraft appeared last month at the Williamtown airshow with its new nose turret. Looks great.

Re: QANTAS Catalina on the way

Posted: Sun Oct 17, 2010 7:04 am
by richard rudd
Andy in the west. Re yr query Darwins Air War? under a Catalina picture. You'll see the name Bob Alford in an earlier post....
by him.
Large format soft cover book re the air raids, top read, excellent pics.
Aviation Heritage Centre Darwin has copies $25 +pp.
enjoy.