This is the place where the majority of the warbird (aircraft that have survived military service) discussions will take place. Specialized forums may be added in the new future
Sun May 08, 2016 1:54 pm
[quote="
As far as it being an amphibian, that,s clearly not the case. What is amazing is that the plane appears to be Bu # 1245, and was the prototype XPBY-5A amphibian, though in the photos I have of that one she is clearly the last PBY-4 with the dash four vertical fin and rudder and dash four engines, cowlings and spinners.
Was this plane Consolidated owned, rebuilt to PBY-5A standard and then de-converted to the 5 configuration for "executive" or vip conversion? With the removal of the landing gear she would have had a much more spacious fuselage for executive transport. Seems the windows preclude the conclusion she was for cargo use.[/quote]
Joe - the pictured machine is BuNo 1245. Planned as the last of the PBY-4s it was built as the prototype amphibian XPBY-5A. In 1943 when based at Coco Solo it was re-worked with PBY-5 style rudder and the deletion of undercarriage and bow turret and became the so-called PBY-5R Sea Mare. The rounded style of bow was also used during the war on the PBY-5As used by TALOA on behalf of the US Navy. One of those aircraft was N31235 mentioned in your email. It is also worth pointing out that a different design of clipper bow was used pre-WWII on the American Export Airlines Model 28-4 NC18997 Transatlantic. So, although perhaps thought of as a post-war mod, the clipper' bow goes back some way before that.