Consolidated / Convair
Consolidated PBY Catalina
nickname "The Canso"
Manufactured 1936–1945
First flight 21 March 1935
Consolidated / Convair
Consolidated PBY Catalina Model 28
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| General information | |
|---|---|
| Type | Maritime patrol bomber, search and rescue seaplane |
| National origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | Consolidated Aircraft |
| Number built | 3,308 (2,661 U.S.-built, 620 Canadian-built, 27 Soviet-built) |
| History | |
| Manufactured | 1936–1945 |
| Introduction date | October 1936, United States Navy |
| First flight | 21 March 1935 |
| Variants | Bird Innovator |
History Consolidated / Convair
Consolidated Model 28, known as the PBY Catalina
Manufactured 1936–1945
First flight 21 March 1935
The Consolidated Model 28, more commonly known as the PBY Catalina (US Navy designation), is a flying boat and amphibious aircraft that was produced in the 1930s and 1940s. In Canadian service it was known as the Canso. It was one of the most widely used seaplanes of World War II. Catalinas served with every branch of the United States Armed Forces and in the air forces and navies of many other nations. The last military PBYs served until the 1980s. As of 2021, 86 years after its first flight, the aircraft continues to fly as a waterbomber (or airtanker) in aerial firefighting operations in some parts of the world.
Background
The PBY was originally designed to be a patrol bomber, an aircraft with a long operational range intended to locate and attack enemy transport ships at sea in order to disrupt enemy supply lines. With a mind to a potential conflict in the Pacific Ocean, where troops would require resupply over great distances, the U.S. Navy in the 1930s invested millions of dollars in developing long-range flying boats for this purpose. Flying boats had the advantage of not requiring runways, in effect having the entire ocean available.
Operational History
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Roles in World War II
The PBY was the most numerous aircraft of its kind, with around 3,300 aircraft built.
During World War II, PBYs were used in anti-submarine warfare, patrol bombing, convoy escort, search and rescue missions (especially air-sea rescue), and cargo transport.
The type operated in nearly all operational theatres of World War II. The Catalina served with distinction and played a prominent and invaluable role in the war against Japan.
These patrol planes shared with land based patrol bombers the combat roles while the very long range Consolidated LB-30 and the Consolidated Coronado were pressed into service to increase the all important logistic strategic air lift capability in the vast Pacific theater. The pairings allowed the Catalina to take on the role of eyes of the fleets at longer ranges than the float plane scouts.
Several different flying boats were adopted by the Navy, but the PBY was the most widely used and produced.
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Although the Catalina was slow and ungainly, Allied forces used the aircraft in a wide variety of roles for which it was never intended. PBYs are remembered for their rescue role, in which they saved the lives of hundreds of aircrew downed over water. Catalina airmen called their aircraft the "Cat" on combat missions and "Dumbo" in air-sea rescue service.
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Consolidated / Convair / Vultee
Consolidated Model 28, known as the PBY Catalina
Manufactured 1936–1945
First flight 21 March 1935
Consolidated Convair Vultee
Consolidated Model 28,
known as the PBY Catalina
General characteristics
- Crew: 8 — pilot, co-pilot, bow turret gunner, flight mechanic, radioman, navigator and two waist gunners
- Length: 19.47863 m
- Wingspan: 104 ft (32 m)
- Height: 21 ft 1 in (6.43 m)
- Wing area: 1,400 sq ft (130 m2
Powerplant
- Empty weight: 20,910 lb (9,485 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: (16,066 kg)
- Zero-lift drag coefficient: 0.0309
- Drag area: 43.26 ft2 (4.02 m2)
- Powerplant: 2 × Pratt & Whitney R-1830-92 Twin Wasp 14-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engines, 1,200 hp (890 kW) each
- Propellers: 3-bladed constant-speed propellers
Specifications
- Maximum speed: (315 km/h
- Cruise speed: (201 km/h,
- Range: 2,520 mi (4,060 km, 2,190 nmi)
- Service ceiling: (4,800 m)
- Rate of climb: 1,000 ft/min (5.1 m/s)
- Lift-to-drag: 11.9
- Wing loading: 25.3 lb/sq ft (124 kg/m2)
Armament
- Guns: 3 x .30 cal (7.62 mm) machine guns (two in nose turret, one in ventral hatch at tail)
- 2 x .50 cal (12.7 mm) machine guns (one in each waist blister)
- Bombs: 4,000 lb (1,814 kg) of bombs or depth charges; torpedo racks were also available
Links to Youtube & Others
During the Battle of Midway four U.S. Navy PBYs of Patrol Squadrons 24 and 51 made a night torpedo attack on the Japanese fleet on the night of 3–4 June 1942, scoring one hit which damaged the fleet oiler Akebono Maru, the only successful American torpedo attack in the entire battle.
Consolidated PBY Catalina Model 28
Catalinas were the most extensively used anti-submarine warfare (ASW) aircraft in both the Atlantic and Pacific theaters of World War II,
Youtube Link
Catalinas were employed by every branch of the U.S. military as rescue aircraft. A PBY piloted by LCDR Adrian Marks (USN) rescued 56 sailors in high seas from the heavy cruiser Indianapolis
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