Photography.

[Grumpy Old Nasho]

On 23/09/2025 at 10:08 AM, facthunter said:

I followed a Black one into the Airshow at Avalon in my Citabria

That's the one I videoed, it was black. A short spindly ladder was set up at the rear end of the fuselage where there was an escape hatch, I think it was. My knees nearly gave out trying to crawl in. Not much room in there until you get to the two blisters, one either side, and then further along when you get to where I took the video. No comforts in the plane, just the cushions on the seats, and they weren't looking to comfy for long flights either.

[facthunter]

Not really made for Carrying Passengers and there's a Petrol Motor in there for Lowering the wing tip Floats.  Nev

[onetrack]

GON - How many fuel tanks were in the one you checked out? The Qantas Cats doing the Perth-Ceylon "Double Sunrise" runs, carried 1800 Imp. Gallons of fuel (8,182 litres).

 

The standard factory MTOW of the Cats was 27,000lbs and Qantas raised this limit to 35,150lbs for the Double Sunrise route.

It's reported these Cats regularly exceeded this Qantas limit by several hundred lbs on takeoff. 

 

Payload was only 1000lbs, and after taking off from Melville Water at Crawley on the Swan River, the Qantas Cats were only just able to clear the top of the road and rail bridges on the Swan, at Fremantle, after being airborne for approximately 7 miles.

 

It generally took them an hour to reach 1000 feet in altitude after leaving Perth. I have a copy of the book titled "Qantas Empire Airways - Indian Ocean Service" by Barry Pattison and Geoff Goodall, it's rare to be able to find a copy today, and it's a worthy read.

 

One small fact that fascinated me, was the information that if the Qantas Double Sunrise Cats needed an engine overhaul, the crews had to remove the U/S engine at their Crawley base, and then send it to the RAAF base in Kalgoorlie for reconditioning!! What a wartime shambles!

 

Edited September 27 by onetrack

[red750]

The topic of the PBY should be in the Aircraft Pilots site.

 

a. There it would be seen by many flying members who do not visit this site.

b. While it did start with GON's video, the Photography topic is to discuss cameras, processing, etc.

 

 

[facthunter]

That's a large TOW for those engines and I "KNOW" they would often not "Unstick" On  dead calm water. Big risk of overheating the engines IF they don't get Airborne in a reasonable time. They probably didn't worry about VMCa either..  Mirror water for landing is HARD to judge Flare Height also.  Nev

[spacesailor]

It's good the Catalina is here .

I couldn't get onto the new site .

so I'm hanging here only .

spacesailor

[facthunter]

 Have you Been to HARS spacey?  see and touch the REAL things. It's not far from Toongabbie and the food's good too. Like Home made.  Get out of the House. Nev

[spacesailor]

Are you forgetting my old job .

Collecting & cutting , up war surplus to turn into ' ingots ' for reselling back to the US of A .

At a tidy profit of £300 per imp ton net , in 1960s .

To answer the Question  , yes . I have had my hands on a few pby .

spacesailor

 

Edited September 28 by spacesailor
Missed word

[facthunter]

The Planes there actually FLY and have BEEN saved from scrapping. A remarkable effort and a DAY out for you and your Mob. Almost on your doorstep. Nev