Catalinas on Lough Erne

N7777G

The Fermanagh Seaplane Festival took place at Lough Erne Yacht Club on Sat/Sun and some very interesting aircraft visited including two Catalinas and a DHC Beaver.

Catalina N9767 suffered damage to its tailplane elevator when it drifted into the mast of a moored yacht on Saturday evening:-

http://flic.kr/p/aqyzSG

some pics from Sunday afternoon:-
http://www.flickr.com/photos/eigjb/sets/72157627756264428/

RadioRetro

Nice shots and lovely to see them back where the type operated so long ago.

Here's a BBC News report on two veterans getting a trip in one of them.

irlrobins

Why are the Catalina's wheels down while in the water? Would they not create unnecessary drag?

xflyer

The wheels would only be down when heading for the seaplane ramp. It would be a bit tricky to get out of the water without them. But many of the original 'Cats' were flying boats only and only came out of the water on beaching trolleys.

A Catalina would be on my list of buys after the proverbial Lotto win.

Nforce

A beautiful aircraft in flight...but in danger of being rear ended by seagulls due to it's low cruise speed!:p:D
I remember seeing one of them flying in formation with B17 "Sally B" at an airshow in Baldonnel many years ago.

irlrobins

xflyer wrote: »

The wheels would only be down when heading for the seaplane ramp.

Gotcha, thanks.

xflyer

Nforce wrote: »

I remember seeing one of them flying in formation with B17 "Sally B" at an airshow in Baldonnel many years ago.

That's the one in pieces in Weston at the moment.

andy_g

xflyer wrote: »

That's the one in pieces in Weston at the moment.

So the one in Weston Airport has some history to it. If the owner of it didnt want to do anything with it, and there was enough support behind it why dont people set about setting something up to go about restoring it to some sort of condition other than what it's in?

280special

andy_g wrote: »

So the one in Weston Airport has some history to it. If the owner of it didnt want to do anything with it, and there was enough support behind it why dont people set about setting something up to go about restoring it to some sort of condition other than what it's in?

Was the original intention to restore her to flying condition or just for a museum display ? If she has the potential to fly again wouldnt that make her fairly expensive?

Otherwise the main problem would be finding somewhere to restore then display the aircraft . If it is on the market (?) the only suitable ones would be the Foynes museum or maybe better still the Ulster Aviation Society at Long Kesh ? Would be nice to see a Cat close to where they operated from in WW2.

Davidth88

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-15451497


This is serious dedication to a great aircraft !!


Basically the aircraft had a small accident and has been stuck there ever since , and the pilot too. He has lot his job in the meantime