Catalina heading to California

[Fouga23]

Very nice!

[seabee1526]

For those not yet familiar with the name Jim Slattery, you can go to the FAA Registry and search under the name "Pissed Away" (the amusing name for which his collection is registered to ), to see the range of vintage aircraft and warbirds within his collection, including this Catalina, which are either currently flown or are under restoration to fly. He has the SBD and Helldiver that are at Vulture's Row, the Brewster Corsair at Ezell's, the B-23 at Sanders', and the Tigercat at Fighter Rebuilders. His aircraft, including the F3F, TBM Avenger and Skyraider (which both belonged to the late Danny Summers) could be seen flying at the annual Planes of Fame air show at Chino, both of the last two years, and likely others.

[Bearcat SA]

Latest news is that the Cat is due to leave on its journey on the 19 Dec
Today it went out for about a 3 hour proving flight

[StudeDave]

Well, now- guess who's headed to LAX tomorrow?
Maybe in between all of the work I have to do I can sneak down south and check her out.
If only I knew where in 'San Diego' she's headed, and/or when she might get there...

For some reason I'm thinkin' Gillespie Field in El Cajon would be a good guess.

[Iclo]

If I understand correctly they are going to Dakar before crossing to Brazil ? I hope them to have no trouble in the first part of the trip: It's look to have an AVGAS shortage in West Africa.
The L-12 Electra who came from Europe to South Africa for the filming of "Amelia" had trouble to find avgas, mainly in Angola where hey needed to freight an Twin Otter to be supplyed. (And they were ranconned somewhere in this area)

[ZRX61]

and the Tigercat at Fighter Rebuilders.

& his other Tigercat in Colorado....

[StudeDave]

So....

does anyone have any idea where I ought to be looking for this thing?
(and when?)

[Bearcat SA]

As of yesterday, the Cat has not left South Africa.
As I understand it, there are still paperwork issues to be resolved.
I will update when I know more

[Bearcat SA]

The Cat left Lanseria Airport (FALA) today heading for Walvis Bay in Namibia. After that the route takes them to Luanda Angola, Cameroon, Monrovia before crossing the Atlantic heading for South America.
The crew consists of pilots Mike Castillo and Bob Franicola and Aircraft Engineer, Matt Voight.

Quite an epic flight ahead of them I would think

[StudeDave]

Thanks for the update.

I'll be here in SoCal (about nine blocks from LAX) until the 7th of January...
here's to hoping we'll know where/when to catch it before then.

[Bearcat SA]

Update :The Cat is in Liberia and will be doing the Atlantic crossing to Natal, Brazil tomorrow

[K5DH]

I saw a cross-post from another forum stating that they successfully completed the crossing to Natal in 12 hours, 40 minutes. What a long flight in a Catalina!

[David Legg]

I saw a cross-post from another forum stating that they successfully completed the crossing to Natal in 12 hours, 40 minutes. What a long flight in a Catalina!

To put it in some sort of perspective (and in no way to devalue what N427CV's crew are doing), 18 hours plus was relatively commonplace during WWII for RAF Catalinas and the so-called Double Sunrise Catalina flights between Ceylon and Perth, WA were regularly in excess of 30 hours non-stop and un-refuelled

[TXCOMT]

I saw a cross-post from another forum stating that they successfully completed the crossing to Natal in 12 hours, 40 minutes. What a long flight in a Catalina!

To put it in some sort of perspective (and in no way to devalue what N427CV's crew are doing), 18 hours plus was relatively commonplace during WWII for RAF Catalinas and the so-called Double Sunrise Catalina flights between Ceylon and Perth, WA were regularly in excess of 30 hours non-stop and un-refuelled

And meaning no disrespect to those who served on those incredible flights, that was then and this is now...427CV's crossing is still astounding when you consider the age of the plane. Plus, who else has flown a warbird for that length of time and over open water lately? I certainly wouldn't have the guts, mainly 'cause I don't like to swim!

I reluctantly question the 30-hour-plus flights, though, mainly based on this excerpt from this storyhttp://www.pilotspost.co.za/arn0000205:
"With a fuel capacity of over 6,000 liters the endurance of the PBY is nearly 20 hours at lower power settings."
Did the Double Sunrise birds get extra tanks somewhere or just really pilotage and tailwinds?

Finally, is Charlie Victor home now or did I miss the welcome home party?

TXCOMT

[StudeDave]

Finally, is Charlie Victor home now or did I miss the welcome home party?
TXCOMT

Good question. Except I still don't know where 'home' is!!!

I'll be back in SoCal sometime next month- maybe I'll know by then...