PBY Catalina in the Air

PBY Catalina in the Air

This isn't the first Catalina intended for the New Zealand "warbirds" circuit.

The consortium which owns this Catalina bought one in the USA, but when they were flying back across the Pacific to New Zealand, one engine died, and they gradually lost altitude until they were forced to land at night in fairly rough seas.

The hull was breached, and everyone had to abandon the plane which soon sank. A cargo ship picked them up, and the insurance payout allowed them to buy this plane.

They had a New Zealand TV crew with them, so the entire experience was shown on TV.

This particular plane was a Canadian built "Canso" which entered service in March of 1944. It was the first Catalina to patrol around the Solomon Islands in preparation for the Allied invasion.

From 1988 to 1994, the plane flew as a tourist operation in Africa, mostly around the Nile. In October of 1994, it was flown from Africa to its new home in New Zealand.

starting a low-altitude pass with pontoons raised

The waist "blisters" are nicely visible in this shot.

Catalina doing a very low-altitude pass with pontoons lowered

very low-altitude pass with pontoons raised

The intention is to repaint the plane in wartime RNZAF colors, which will be a big improvement over the current scheme!