Monday, October 30, 2017

The ultimate float plane


9 comments:

  1. Actually, that's not a "float plane." That PBY is a "Flying boat." Big difference.

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  2. Maybe change it to "floating plane"? Didn't it take about a mile of run to get out of the water? I remember reading somewhere that it took a long time to get off the step and in the air....

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  3. That is a PBY 5-A. It is amphibious. Wheels cank down from the sides of the fuselage for ground landings. The addition of ground gear made a great aircraft mediocre. It used up useful load.

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    Replies
    1. Or for taxiing out of the water.

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  4. If you want to read an insanely good book about PBY Catalinas in the Pacific,

    https://www.biblio.com/frigate-bird-by-taylor-g-p/work/538863

    A preview: http://www.airwaysmuseum.com/Taylor%20Chile%20flight%20crew.htm

    The author: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gordon_Taylor_(aviator)

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    Replies
    1. Thanks, Don, I ordered it. It'll be great winter time reading!

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  5. An Albert makes a far better flying camper than a PBY. There is one just down the road from me but it hasn't flown in over 4 years and it is still maintained. The inside looks like a fancy motor-home.She is owned by Julie Fetcko. Go here http://www.albatrosslady.com/

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  6. the french registered pby-5a i have seen had a pair of IO-700s and four blade props mounted on the outboard wing panel foward of the ailerons to increase roll control at low speed. bit of ingeniousness going on. roll controll and pitch control was poor at very low airspeeds. aerodynamic "hook" you couldn't accelerate out of below vmc which was at some loadings above stall speed.
    if memory serves, crashed anyway.

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