Subdeacon Joe Posted April 24, 2013 Share Posted April 24, 2013 "Put it in gear and let the clutch out!" There's one in every crowd. www.youtube.com/watch?v=zr2v1AiTDTw Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dawg Hair, SASS #29557 Posted April 24, 2013 Share Posted April 24, 2013 What a gorgeous airplane, there is something sexy about the PBY. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chantry Posted April 24, 2013 Share Posted April 24, 2013 One of the great airplanes of WWII, arguably obsolete when the war started, it saw service in every theater and remained in service until the end of the war and after. Long range scouting, air sea rescue, cargo, dropping agents behind enemy lines, anti sub operations and night attack were all done by the PBY. Not bad for one of the slowest (it topped out at around 200 mph in level flight) combat aircraft of the war. Brazil's airforce flew them in active service well into the 1970's, they were the only plane that could carry enough supplies up the Amazon river. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Harris #154 Posted April 24, 2013 Share Posted April 24, 2013 One flew in at the Perris Airport that had been converted into a flying motor home. It was really cool! BH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bad Hand Posted April 24, 2013 Share Posted April 24, 2013 I had the chance to fly in one, I was surprised at how small it was. The flight engineer's position is inside the main wing support. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hardpan Curmudgeon SASS #8967 Posted April 24, 2013 Share Posted April 24, 2013 My late Uncle Bob was a PBY flight engineer (Coast Guard)... Loved listening to his stories when I was a youngster.... he'd described his station as being "cozy." Cutaway PBY Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Whiskers Posted April 24, 2013 Share Posted April 24, 2013 I'm wondering how tall the guy was that walked the props before starting it up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Too Tall Bob Posted April 24, 2013 Share Posted April 24, 2013 2 regional airlines in Southeast Alaska (Coastal and Ellis Airlines) flew the PBY, the Grumman Goose and Widgeon between small towns before most of them got airports. You land on the water and taxi up a ramp to the terminal or just pull up to the boat dock and unload. It was not uncommon to see one of the crew pop the nose hatch and start fishing while waiting for the next flite. The first Grumman goose to sport turbine engines was fitted in Juneau, Alaska. On the 2nd flite, the pilot neglected to pull up the landing gear. When he landed in the harbor in front of town the plane flipped and sank. Oops! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Utah Bob #35998 Posted April 24, 2013 Share Posted April 24, 2013 What a gorgeous airplane, there is something sexy about the PBY. :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Utah Bob #35998 Posted April 24, 2013 Share Posted April 24, 2013 And they could kick some butt. http://www.webring.org/l/rd?ring=ww2av;id=47;url=http%3A%2F%2Fdaveswarbirds%2Ecom%2Fblackcat%2F Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hardpan Curmudgeon SASS #8967 Posted April 24, 2013 Share Posted April 24, 2013 They do be slow....! I got to see one at an air show at Naval Air Station Alameda back in the 90's. She was gorgeous.... but when she took off I swear I could almost run as fast~! Could've eaten a sandwich (with chips!) before she was out of sight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chantry Posted April 25, 2013 Share Posted April 25, 2013 And they could kick some butt. http://www.webring.org/l/rd?ring=ww2av;id=47;url=http%3A%2F%2Fdaveswarbirds%2Ecom%2Fblackcat%2F They would routinely turn the engines off and glide into the attack. In addition to bombs they would drop beer bottles with razor blades in the necks of the bottles. It made a weird noise as it fell and apparently really spooked the Japanese. I've read enough about PBY's and their pilots both in the attack role and in the rescue role to consider many of them more then a little crazy and possessed of serious set of brass............ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grouchy Greg, SASS#71981 Posted April 25, 2013 Share Posted April 25, 2013 My favorite: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bugs Bonney SASS # 10171 Posted April 26, 2013 Share Posted April 26, 2013 I was privileged to fly the right blister in the CAF Minnesota Wing's PBY over the fourth of July weekend several years ago. We flew from DesMoines to an air show in Springfield Missouri and I actually got a half hour in the right seat. Fun to have KCI air traffic control ask what kind of aircraft you are and then ask again and then ask for details. We flew the airshow for no appearance fee, just a gas fill up. Evidently someone didn't know the PBY has a 2400 gallon tank. From there we flew to Independence Iowa and did the airshow there. On the way back to South Saint Paul Airport we lost the right engine and did a one engine landing at Rochester Minnesota, had to bum a ride to St. Paul to pick up the pilots car so we could drive home to DesMoines. A weekend I will never forget. In case your wondering you don't walk the engines thru on a PBY you crank them around with the ignition off you can see it in the video. Bugs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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