Warbird Information Exchange

Aircraft Mech Paul Posted:

I recall seeing a photo a friend sent me of what appears to be a Boeing B-307 Stratoliner fuselage that had been converted to a houseboat configuration. And on that one, the workmanship looked very well done. Still though, it is wierd to see the derivations that some folks use these old planes for in today's world.

Jase Posted:

Ah yes, the Cosmic Muffin.

The Sexy cabin cruiser with inbuilt beaching gear is "Henrietta" a former Ansett Airlines of Australia post war airliner, VH-BRI, that was purchased to service the holiday island market in Queensland.

PBY-5A, Construction Number 1735, a former lansaire modification ex N10018, it was registered in Australia as VH-BRI in 1959, and sank at its moorings at Hayman Island after a heavy landing in July 1962, it was salvaged and modified into "Henrietta" with most of the aircraft superstructure removed and a boat cabin constructed on the basic hull which retained the amphibian undercarriage, it still survives today in the same configuration in Queensland.

At least 5 other Catalina's were converted into Houseboats on Australia's inland river system including the PBY-5A (M) A24-88 in the earlier photograph above, with many also having their superstructure removed to either have new boat cabins or simply to be used as barges, most operated on the Murray River.

Two examples understood to be still in service on the river are shown below, the second being "PaddleCat" an extensive modification into a side wheel paddleboat.

Photos via links to Rudd de Leeuw's website at

http://www.ruudleeuw.com/search113.htm

regards

Mark Pilkington









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Whilst on the subject of Catalina-turned-houseboats, Allan Lebaron sent me this photo of the Paddle Cat, photo by the owner, Jim Vale.
Allan wrote me the following information: "I have following information on BuAer 1216; it was of interest to me because it was from the original PW10 squadrons in the Philippines when the war began for the U.S. and my brother's squadron (VP-22) was sent out from Pearl with early-model PBY-5s as reinforcement. They lost almost all their a/c - I think two of the 4s survived, one or two of the -5s they had received from the Dutch, and one from VP-22, which was sent back to the U.S. and used as a trainer in Florida. I believe the -4s turned over to the Aussies were also used as trainers but were surplused after the war.
This Catalina was a PBY-4 for the US Navy until March or April 1942, when it was turned over to the Aussies, who used it as a trainer for the rest of the War. I am quite sure the BuAer 1216 is correct and that it was A24-28 or A24-29 in Australian Service. Also, since it wasn't part of the Lend-Lease program, it didn't have to be either returned or destroyed after the war. Jim Vale converted it to a houseboat at some point"
"I have an envelope from Jim Vale, Mildura, postmarked 27 March 1998. Here is a quote from his letter: "...regarding your query as to how I have managed to keep the hull free of water, the whole hull section is covered with fibreglass, it is completely dry and has not been out of the water for 11 years..."