PBY Consolidated Catalina

Best flying boat ever Built?

The Catalina was designed in the mid 1930's for the US Navy, but it came to its fore during World-War II (1939-45) when many thousands were built for operations in the maritime role in both the Atlantic ocean and the Pacific! Many were also deployed in the far-east, and Mediterranean in the main role as an anti-submarine hunter and with unrivalled success.

This flying boat was also used to transport special forces, medical evacuation and many needed gaps in aviation during the war years! It is not clear if any were ever used as commercial airliners during or after the war, but they continued mainly in the maritime and later fishery protections role. They were easy to fly and versatile and like by the pilots who flew them and this also applied to around the world?

After the war the over 7000 built found a new role with many nations outside the U.S. and these boats remained in that role right up to the 1990's? The Catalina does not surpass the Antonov An-2/4 in age and operational use, but it is the nearest to that target along with the Douglas DC-3/C-47!

Wales National Air Show 2018?

Prelude to it!

2018 promises to be something different with a tribute to the Royal Air forces 100th year and the end of World War-I (1914-18). Both German and British bi-planes historical aircraft of the 1918 period are to fly with many other new exhibits, such as the Catalina flying boat of World War-II?

Much of the same will be here again as last year in military equipment and aircraft, obviously my request was ignored since this event must be well planned ahead or the items are lacking due to operational and national security issues?

If the weather holds up it is expected to be another fantastic year for the everyone concerned, blue skies will produce some spectacular pictures and quality filming!

One would encourage everyone to have ago, even some of the basic digital cameras can still produce some not bad films and memories of the day?