PBY airplane restored

[Bob Bryant]

This video of a very nicely restored plane from WWII is a pleasure to see.

http://vimeo.com/99919462

[rockne10]

That's a pretty elegant "Ugly Duckling"! Glad it's been saved. Thanks for sharing.
The B-17G "Sentimental Journey" is scheduled to arrive locally tomorrow at noon. I'm hoping to get to the airport to video the arrival.

[PeterHawk]

Thank you for posting this. When I was I the Navy (1963-67) I served aboard the USS Currituck AV 7. It was a seaplane tender and this brought back some fond memories.

[Chris Pile]

That's the way to travel, ain't it?
The only thing better would have been by China Clipper.

[GinettaG12P]

The PBY plays heavily in one of my favorite movies: Always. Now someone should restore the R3Y-1 Tradewind, which I think is the most beautiful amphibious aircraft ever made.

[JBOYLE]

Now someone should restore the R3Y-1 Tradewind, which I think is the most beautiful amphibious aircraft ever made.

None are left. Likewise, the jet-powered Martin SeaMaster.
Both live on in ancient Revell plastic kits, though.

A PBY, the last one built in fact, is being restored at Moses Lake, Washington. The owner intends to make it as complete and stock as possible. He told me he has some parts the Navy museum doesn't have for their PBY.
At one time it was owned by the same guy who owned, and flew, the Catalinas in Always.

[StudeDave57]

That (particular) bird is even more impressive when you know where it came from, and the journey it took to get back to it's roots in San Diego~

http://www.warbirdinformationexchang...hp?f=3&t=48082

(be sure to check out the link on page three of the link above)

Pretty cool, eh?




StudeDave '57

[jclary]

If ever there was an "Unsung Hero"...it is the PBY. Here, on our forums, we often engage in "what if." While it is the high profile and exciting performance of the fighters and bombers of WWII that get most of the attention, it was the plodding drone of the PBY, methodically going about their business in reconnaissance, search and rescue, communications, and transport missions that were unmatched by our enemies.

Without the PBY, the "what if" outcome of the war would be an even worse horror to imagine. As an example of how amazing the crews and their lumbering flying boats were...check out this story found on the PBY Catalina Foundation website. http://www.pbycat.org/chronicles.html