Visiting the Gannanoque PBY ghost......
Tue Nov 11, 2014 11:43 pm
Visiting the Gannanoque PBY ghost......
Talk about timing.......ON my way back from Toronto to Montreal with the kids this summer.
I wanted to see this bird again (last visit was 16 years ago) so we did a quick turn around and ho and behold, she (yes it's a she) is outside for the first time in a long time getting cleaned and waxed.
On top of that the owner is there and shares his story with us........and let my kids inside!!!!!! An AMAZING individual.
NO it is not for sale.
First the plane was never a SAAR's aircraft. It was rebuilt as a cargo variant for the Canadian air force. So as such it has a lot of unique internal modifications done to it for that duty which I have never seen before since this was the first time I ever got so close to it.
To say that this is bird is well preserved would be an UNDERSTATEMENT...........It's all there and original........
How often do you get to manually retract the floats from the original wing pod flight engineer station.......
Now I understand why the Navy feel in love with the PBY....all logistic and controls are built like a boat. The pilot does his job but any critical engine and AC commands are relayed to the flight engineer station the good old way. From the captain's deck to the engine room.
The only parts in sad condition where the rubber de-icing booths...the rest is ALL there with the original autopilot controls.
Sadly, I ran out of batteries on my cam before taking all the pics I wanted....Enjoy.
Flight engineer station
And the happiest girl on the block. He took the time to explain to her the contribution of women to the war effort and how they built the planes......It was funny because he told her she was welcomed back anytime. He really made my daughter feel special that day.
Talk about timing.......ON my way back from Toronto to Montreal with the kids this summer.
I wanted to see this bird again (last visit was 16 years ago) so we did a quick turn around and ho and behold, she (yes it's a she) is outside for the first time in a long time getting cleaned and waxed.
On top of that the owner is there and shares his story with us........and let my kids inside!!!!!! An AMAZING individual.
NO it is not for sale.
First the plane was never a SAAR's aircraft. It was rebuilt as a cargo variant for the Canadian air force. So as such it has a lot of unique internal modifications done to it for that duty which I have never seen before since this was the first time I ever got so close to it.
To say that this is bird is well preserved would be an UNDERSTATEMENT...........It's all there and original........
How often do you get to manually retract the floats from the original wing pod flight engineer station.......
Now I understand why the Navy feel in love with the PBY....all logistic and controls are built like a boat. The pilot does his job but any critical engine and AC commands are relayed to the flight engineer station the good old way. From the captain's deck to the engine room.
The only parts in sad condition where the rubber de-icing booths...the rest is ALL there with the original autopilot controls.
Sadly, I ran out of batteries on my cam before taking all the pics I wanted....Enjoy.
Flight engineer station
And the happiest girl on the block. He took the time to explain to her the contribution of women to the war effort and how they built the planes......It was funny because he told her she was welcomed back anytime. He really made my daughter feel special that day.
Re: Visiting the Gannanoque PBY ghost......
Wed Nov 12, 2014 6:10 am
Thanks for the images! Love the Canso 
Re: Visiting the Gannanoque PBY ghost......
Wed Nov 12, 2014 7:44 pm
Thanks for that Michel.
I had heard about this machine, but never seen her.
I like the images, and the tale about your daughter being made to feel so special. (lovely shot of her too BTW )
I'm a firm believer that airports need more girls
I wonder what the owner hopes for as the eventual fate of this bird?
Andy
I had heard about this machine, but never seen her.
I like the images, and the tale about your daughter being made to feel so special. (lovely shot of her too BTW )
I'm a firm believer that airports need more girls
I wonder what the owner hopes for as the eventual fate of this bird?
Andy
Re: Visiting the Gannanoque PBY ghost......
Thu Nov 27, 2014 8:45 pm
Don't know why this is tucked away in the Maintenance Hangar, but glad I ran across it! Very cool post! 