Brief update on the results of the Catalina festival today at Rathmines.
Obviously with introduction of the HARS Catalina to this years line up, along with extensive media coverage, interesting exhibits, all saw a massive crowd turn over which had 45mins -1hr traffic crawl outside the former base in the morning.
The morning arrival of the HARS Black Cat Catalina, saw it fly over and then alight on Lake Macquarie. It then tacied in with the sounds of the engines reverberating off the water and making everyone know she was her. The arrival saw the crowd surge forward to the former RAAF base ramp hardstand area and they watched for the first time in 31years as a Catalina rose up from the lake and came ashore.
Over next few hours, WW2 RAAF Catalina veterans and the general public were allowed into the Catalina for a close up look. Meanwhile overheard buzzed formations of civil seaplanes, Tigermoths and a Wirraway.
Many small stalls were present and were some local community groups which had displays which included amazing WW2 photos of Rathmines from air and ground showing how large the base was. In the main community hall building was a superb Catalina display, with a 3-4m x 7m long model of Rathmines as in WW2....well built. Hanging from roof were 3 large Catalina models.
Many more photos, uniforms, displays of war time items such as unit pennants, flight boots and paperwork was on show.
By 330pm it was time for the Cat to say goodbye and again the crowds surged forward to watch the start up and into the Lake. A camera was seen to be mounted to the wing support for inflight filming. The take off saw spray and mist cover the aircraft and once airborne , another fly over and the event closed for the day.
This Festival was possible due to the hard work of the Catalina Festival team, CFML members, local community groups, HARS for kindly bringing the Catalina to the festival for the first time on the ground (in past it has flown over) and many of the hard working volunteers who help prepare and guide people.
The CFML Catalina project has given an update it seems the VH-CAT, it seems the repairs and overhaul are on track (along with getting more donations/sponsors/funding) so it could mean it may refly hopefully sometime early next year, which should mean for the 2013 Catalina Festival at Rathmines, there could be a high chance of seeing 2 Catalinas on the lake and on ramp if all goes well.
Here is a short video i shot showing the HARS Catalina running up its engines prior to departure from Rathmines around 330pm today
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=3899280480106 . More photos from me will come soon.
In space of a few hours i met today the nearly everyone from the Catalina Festival organisers, CFML project team along with most of the HARS team/management board again. It was truly great to see all these people able to achieve a great outcome for ensuring the modern generations to come will be able to understand the role the men and women in WW2 played in the RAAF at Rathmines.
Many people it seems wants to see this event happen every year with aircraft like the Catalina coming, gauging by the crowd interest today.
Lets hope HARS can assist the CFML and CF again in 2013 to bring back the sounds of Catalinas to Rathmines.
Phil