Van Nuys PBY

Mike · **Joined:** Tue May 04, 2004 8:54 am **Posts:** 3331

Just curious, does anyone know anything about a VNY-based PBY? One came into land, wingtip floats down, tonight as I was sitting in the 94th Aero Squadron restaurant supping a beer.

richkolasa · **Posted:** Fri Jan 09, 2009 3:38 pm

There was one, I think from the Chicago area that was being prepped for an around-the-world flight. Bob Hill was checking out the pilot and owner a few months ago. Maybe they're launching from VNY?

Rich

lvkeith83 · **Posted:** Fri Jan 09, 2009 4:56 pm

The plane you saw was an HU-16B Albatross N44HQ

Mike · **Joined:** Tue May 04, 2004 8:54 am **Posts:** 3331

Thanks.

I blame my poor recognition skills on the darkness, or maybe the beer.

On second thoughts, probably both! :lol:

mlenoch · **Posted:** Fri Jan 09, 2009 5:31 pm

Was the Albatross blue & white with yellow trim/accents?
It has been at Lewis University (KLOT) off and on for the last several months. As I understand, it is an aerial/airline cell phone demonstrator.
VL

lvkeith83 · **Posted:** Fri Jan 09, 2009 5:49 pm

[quote="vlado"]Was the Albatross blue & white with yellow trim/accents?
It has been at Lewis University (KLOT) off and on for the last several months. As I understand, it is an aerial/airline cell phone demonstrator.
VL[/quote

Yes. I saw the plane a couple of weeks ago here at French Valley Airport f70 shooting Touch n Go's

bdk · **Joined:** Sun May 02, 2004 1:16 am **Posts:** 11324

There used to be a derelict PBY at Van Nuys (circa 1979). Anyone know where that one got off to?

T J Johansen · **Posted:** Fri Jan 09, 2009 6:19 pm

bdk wrote:

There used to be a derelict PBY at Van Nuys (circa 1979). Anyone know where that one got off to?

I imagine you are thinking about this one shot by WIX forumite Paul Filmer A.K.A. skippyscage...

(Photo #5 in the slideshow.)
http://www.skippyscage.com/aviation/sca ... /index.php

Or Here.
http://myaviation.net/?pid=00078829

Currently residing in the San Diego Air Museum.

T J

stumac · **Joined:** Tue Nov 23, 2004 11:19 pm **Posts:** 185

Yes Vlado, that is the one!

bdk · **Joined:** Sun May 02, 2004 1:16 am **Posts:** 11324

T J Johansen wrote:

I imagine you are thinking about this one shot by WIX forumite Paul Filmer A.K.A. skippyscage...

Thanks TJ, that's the one!

BigGrey · **Posted:** Sat Jan 10, 2009 1:34 pm

Sometime around 1982 I was taxiing for departure from Catalina Island Airport behind a PBY. The wide gear on the PBY was right on the edges of the taxiway and was busting up the asphalt as it taxied. The chunks of asphalt were going everywhere and I was very nervous about the prop on the 210 picking up a piece of it, but suffered no damage.

Les

David Legg · **Joined:** Sun Dec 31, 2006 1:07 pm **Posts:** 338

I was a tad sceptical about the report of a PBY landing at van Nuys because it stated the floats were down. That would be unconventional for a PBY terra firma landing although not on the Grumman type of course which it turned out to be. The sad ,looking PBY-5A N5590V at Van Nuys some years ago and mentioned above was rescued and is now on external display at the museum in San Diego.

marine air · **Posted:** Sun Jan 11, 2009 5:00 pm

The floats on the PBY add about four feet of wing when retracted. If the floats are still installed, then lowering the floats helps decrease lift, increase drag, and add stability. I think it raises the stall speed a few knots to have them extended.
The wing of PBY doesn't have flaps, and it tries to "float" when landing on land, but it will start to "sway" unless you use rudder only on landing.
It's not a fun airplane to land on pavement.

Mike · **Joined:** Tue May 04, 2004 8:54 am **Posts:** 3331

Here's a BBC News report featuring the same Albatross

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7822430.stm

Canso42 · **Posted:** Sun Jan 11, 2009 10:38 pm

Anybody got any up to date info on the fate of any of the other a/c in the Skippyscage link? Especially the two Connies.

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Van Nuys PBY

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