And what country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.
Those old fire fighting planes are garbage. In about 1985 one of these PBYs was flying a fire in Washington state (I think).. While flying along, the prop on the co;pilot side came apart and a blade came through the cockpit roof and cut the co-pilots head off. All of those old fire fighting planes are garbage. They had very bad maintenance. I was flying a C-119G3 at the time up in Alaska for Hawkins and Powers out of Wyoming.
Seems like an urban myth, I've never heard of such a beheading and the Aviation Safety Database doesn't have a record. I know a few people who flew and maintained PBYs back in the day and they all love the Canso (as they were called in the RAF and RCAF). They have the same engine and props as the DC-3 so reliability is not an issue. Al_in_Ottawa
My brother and four others had an idea to run supplies to miners on the Yukon River. Their aircraft was a surplus Catalina. No matter how they figured it, they couldn't nake it work. Aircraft maintenance was the biggest obstacle to profitability.
These men were no slouches, between them were top of the line expertise in the various skills required for such an op. Still, it was a no go.
You're in good company, CW. Jack Erickson only adds planes he'd like to fly to his collection. http://www.ericksoncollection.com/aircraft#/consolidated-pby-5a-catalina/
A good old WW-2 PBY Catalina fighting fires.
ReplyDeleteThose old fire fighting planes are garbage. In about 1985 one of these PBYs was flying a fire in Washington state (I think).. While flying along, the prop on the co;pilot side came apart and a blade came through the cockpit roof and cut the co-pilots head off. All of those old fire fighting planes are garbage. They had very bad maintenance. I was flying a C-119G3 at the time up in Alaska for Hawkins and Powers out of Wyoming.
ReplyDeleteOne airplane accident does not make a reliable hard-working plane "garbage." Does it now?
DeleteSeems like an urban myth, I've never heard of such a beheading and the Aviation Safety Database doesn't have a record. I know a few people who flew and maintained PBYs back in the day and they all love the Canso (as they were called in the RAF and RCAF). They have the same engine and props as the DC-3 so reliability is not an issue.
DeleteAl_in_Ottawa
Canso = Canadian-built Catalina (PBY)
DeleteLikes me some flyin' boxcar.
DeleteI haven't heard Hawkins and Powers in quite some time. Tanker 131 for the '97 season.
ReplyDeleteMy brother and four others had an idea to run supplies to miners on the Yukon River. Their aircraft was a surplus Catalina.
ReplyDeleteNo matter how they figured it, they couldn't nake it work. Aircraft maintenance was the biggest obstacle to profitability.
These men were no slouches, between them were top of the line expertise in the various skills required for such an op. Still, it was a no go.
There are rumors afoot that a group is discussing building new, zero times exemplars. Just Sayin' ...
ReplyDeletehttps://catalinaaircrafttrust.com/news
DeleteZero emission all electric I'm sure. Maybe hydrogen. All proven.
DeleteYou're in good company, CW. Jack Erickson only adds planes he'd like to fly to his collection.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.ericksoncollection.com/aircraft#/consolidated-pby-5a-catalina/
That's the fun part. The dodging through flaming pine trees and smoke, not so much.
ReplyDeletehttps://youtu.be/AMBG_-0zjEg?t=109