PBY centre section at American Air Services

[David Legg]

I have been told that there is a Catalina centre section being worked on at the American Air Services facility at New Smyrna Beach, Florida. Can anyone tell me the identity of it please?

[Triplane102]

Is that the one in the current issue of Aeroplane Monthly ? (Or, FlyPast ?) If so, it states that it belongs to a British owner & is going to be restored in RN colors. Of course, What are the odds I'm wrong !?

[David Legg]

Is that the one in the current issue of Aeroplane Monthly ? (Or, FlyPast ?) If so, it states that it belongs to a British owner & is going to be restored in RN colors. Of course, What are the odds I'm wrong !?

No, not the same one - that one is not far away at Fort Pierce (just arrived).

[Triplane102]

Thanks David, not to go off track here, but which Cat's center section were they working on not to long ago? I remember seeing pics of it on line.

[Warbird Kid]

The PBY Wing / Spar section being restored at American Aero Services belongs to PBY-6A CATALINA/Bu. 64072 / N7057C from the American Airpower Museum in Farmingdale-Republic Field, NY.

Still wished she was based out of Geneseo.

[David Legg]

Many thanks for that identification. Very helpful.

[Triplane102]

Thanks W.B Kid & David, Maybe we'll be able to keep track of the one being restored at Fort Pierce soon.

[CoastieJohn]

David, I maybe able to drive over and take a looksee. I'm hanging my snowbird hat about 15-20 minutes away from there. When I was there a couple of months back doing photo recon, I didn't see anything like that...but I was mostly looking at airframes. John

[florida.warbirds]

Need to get a different photo, that is the wrong one.

Last edited by florida.warbirds on Wed Mar 18, 2015 10:48 am, edited 1 time in total.

[B25PBYGUY]

Oh yeah, that center section been at Gary's for a whille. That's the Cat I ferried from Elmira to Farmingdale for American Airpower Museum in Nov. 2006.

They have a 'Save The Cat' fund if someone wishes to make a donation. I placed the nifty 'Save The Cat' sticker on my flight bag.

[David Legg]

Oh yeah, that center section been at Gary's for a whille. That's the Cat I ferried from Elmira to Farmingdale for American Airpower Museum in Nov. 2006.

Hi - do you know the precise date of the ferry flight to Farmingdale? It would be helpful to know for my files. Is the hull still there do you know?

John - any photos would appreciated.

[CoastieJohn]

[quote="David Legg]
John - any photos would appreciated.[/quote]

David, as requested. I have a couple of other similar shots, just from different angles.....John

Last edited by CoastieJohn on Thu Mar 19, 2015 10:03 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[CoastieJohn]

More from American Aero today while doing the PBY recon.

There is supposed to be the only one of these out there. Yes, the missile was on top of it. It is a newer arrival to the barn. The story was it came from a private collection in Cali that was "willed" to someone else.
























The PH P-40 in plastic wrap.

[David Legg]

David, as requested. I have a couple of other similar shots, just from different angles.....John

Many thanks for those.

[kmiles]

The SCUD B was part of the Jacques Littlefield Collection that is now part of The Collings Foundation. Check out the American Aero facebook page from last fall as there are videos of it driving and the missile actually going up and down. It is at American Aero to get a refresh on the paint. Mechanically it is very complete and operational except for the missile itself.