Warbird Information Exchange

Mark,

Do you know if the turret rings for the early birdcage type turret and the Ryan eyeball turret are the same? If so, are there drawings available or a sample that could be copied? Are there any technical data available for the Ryan turret such as maintenance manuals, drawings etc?

Mustang51,

I believe there is no difference between the turret rings for both turret types, in fact the PBY-5A could be supplied with either and I am aware of overseas situations of early turrets being cosmetically rebuilt to present as an eyeball turret as the differences are largely in the gun mount (twn 50 cal) gun "eyeball" and socket, and "hood" and access "bubble".

I suspect there may be maintance manuals and drawings available for the eyeball turret but I have not as yet located them, our museum aircraft A24-88 should have an eyeball turret as well but at this stage we intend to use the early turret in its current form.

I am not aware of any "eyeball" turrets being available for sale etc anywhere world wide, the two early turrets we are purchasing are 2 of only 3 that were available to my knowledge, the third is also an early turret.

I may have access to a very corroded turret ring and nose section which may suit you for patterns, it is too far gone to rebuild in its own right.

I expect the RAAF Museum may have access to information on restoring the Eyeball turret in their aircraft.

Regards

Mark Pilkington

_________________
20th Century - The Age of Manned Flight
"from Wrights to Armstrong in 66 years -WOW!"

Does anyone know if C-FPQM made it across the atlantic to Foynes, Ireland this weekend?

T J

_________________
Make my day, punk!

I believe it didn't

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Magister Aviation
It's all in my book

A little birdie has told me that we may be seeing another PBY-6A here in Australia.

Mustrang51,

that is correct, I understand it is to be a flyer (already is a flyer) and will fly out to Australia under its own power.

(this is not to be confused with my own PBY-5A which is still a possibility to come to Australia, but not as a flyer, and not under its own power -smiles)

regards

Mark Pilkington

_________________
20th Century - The Age of Manned Flight
"from Wrights to Armstrong in 66 years -WOW!"

Joe,
I'm enjoying all of this great PBY news! Excuse me for one minor correction though, the N# for this aircraft is N2763A.

http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry ... dfind.y=12

Dennis

Mark,

Think that they will have to do quite a lot of work on it.........

Sorry to bring up a "dead" thread but does anyone know what's going to happen to N9505C?

I just realized it's the famous "Always" PBY and it'd be sad to see it not preserved in some fashion, preferably painted in her role for that film.