PBY flight photos and maybe more...

daveymac82c · **Posted:** Fri Sep 26, 2008 12:12 am

Those pictures are great. What a beautiful looking PBY.

I have dreams of having a PBY and bringing it to air shows and taking people flying in it. Oh heck, maybe go fishing in it too!

They sure are a pretty airplane.

Cheers,

David

B25PBYGUY · **Posted:** Fri Sep 26, 2008 6:04 am

Great video Rich. I look forward to the whole disc. Some comments -

It's interesting to note the flat approach initiated from around 500 AGL at the show. The PBY has no flaps. Because of the lack of induced and form drag that flaps would provide, and to eliminate reverse bearing load on the engine's master rod bearings, the co-pilot has reduced the RPM to 1600, while I'm probably in the range of 18"MAP or less on short final. I used to lower the floats for any landing with a Super Cat to attempt greater drag to avoid these same reverse bearing loads on the 2600.

Also, displayed is the lack of controllability about the longitudinal axis, particularly at approach speeds, requiring large aileron excursions with minimal effect. If the airplane is displaced by gusts etc., you have to work hard. The airplane's control surfaces are not harmonized well, with rudder inputs about the vertical axis being extrememly heavy.
The B-17 suffers from similar poor aileron effectiveness at slow speed (very difficult to make a lateral move at flare speed with strong x-winds) as well, but is better balanced and harmonized about all 3 axis than a PBY.

Lastly, note the wheel touchdown of upwind main, downwind main, and nosewheel. The PBY has the same 47" main wheel as the B-25, but only half the brakes - inner only. Like the 25, there is a strong tendency to pitch down at runway contact (and to instantly slam the nosewheel down) when the large tire's frictional resisitance coupled with a CG mass poised above the rotation point meets the surface. The greater the groundspeed the greater the magnitude of this occurring. This requires increased elevator backpressure upon touchdown.
This landing is about 5 kts hot to allow a quicker roll to clear at the end, as there is a C-47 sequencing behind me for landing and 2 B-25's ready to depart for their part in the show.

I feel like I'm giving PBY groundschool, but its interesting to disect a mere :47 seconds of video.

Ztex · **Posted:** Fri Sep 26, 2008 9:11 am

Bob,

I like a little ground school with my video. It really brings things to life to hear how these machines actually feel and move.

Thanks for the insight!

Great piece of video!

Myles · **Posted:** Fri Sep 26, 2008 6:03 pm

Haven't seen any close up shots of '21C since she left Santa Rosa in 1995 for Italy. I used to work on, and fly co-pilot (in that order) this aircraft when the late Gus Vincent owned it. Two brothers that were also on the crew with me reconfigured the clipper nose for the turret installation back in
1993. Sometime later the blisters were added to the aircraft by the restorers at Aerocrafter's, Inc. in Santa Rosa. My avatar photo shows me flying in the left seat coming back from an airshow somewhere in California.
Jim Long

armyjunk2 · **Joined:** Wed May 16, 2007 8:15 pm **Posts:** 833

thank you for the great pics.....cats are my favorite planes

Canso42 · **Posted:** Fri Sep 26, 2008 8:41 pm

This is wonderful guys. Not even B-17's get me all gooey inside like a nice Cat. It's good to see a good bunch of P-boat guys gathered on one thread too.
Nice to cross paths again Baldur. Welcome to WIX. Has Ragnar ever posted here?
I can't add anything here but compliments.

FLOATS UP!
Canso42

richkolasa · **Posted:** Fri Sep 26, 2008 10:25 pm

For those of you interested, I've added a second video, which is actually the first...

http://www.crystalgraphix.com/video/PBY_1.wmv

JDK · **Posted:** Fri Sep 26, 2008 10:34 pm

Great stuff folks - nice to see both firsthand insight (and video) and solid research...

Keep it coming!

B25PBYGUY · **Posted:** Sat Sep 27, 2008 8:03 am

In this video, Rich has edited shots that were filmed at both Millville and the home of the Fighter Factory in Virginia Beach. There will be a second facility constructed adjacent to this first building. Those visiting the Norfolk area would enjoy this museum, that is continually expanding. It's a privilege to represent the Fighter Factory and be surrounded by the fine folks involved there. Many more airplanes and displays will be added in the future.

Primarily, whats seen here is the "bumping" of starter to rotate the power section of the engine, (by counting blades) to determine if any oil has collected in the lower cylinders of each row. Obviously, one won't be pulling these thru by hand.
The bumping technique is utilized carefully so as not to develop any "blade" inertia and watching for any sudden stoppage of the prop indicating a hydraulic lock. With a 16:9 gear reduction, just over 3 blades rotates the power section thru a complete cycle and additional more faster rotations move oil into the the reduction gear case.

The oil that collects here is residual from previous operation and not the oil located in the tank (dry sump). This oil is kept from entering the engine with an oil inlet valve that will unseat at about 15 psi. In the past, on a an R-2000 equipped airplane, I have had this valve remain open allowing many gallons to fill the cranckase overnight. Moreover, the Fighter Factory Cat also has electric oil (and fuel) shutoff valves installed too.

Another edit here, actually depicts the right engine has started and I'm "tickling" the primer switch next to the starter switch. The starter switches have guard covers with are shown in the open position.

Lastly, note the trees rustling as the Cat taxi's out. We had 30kt gusts on the surface and the airplane was actually slammed down after departure from about six feet. It was rough!

richkolasa · **Posted:** Sat Sep 27, 2008 8:59 pm

B25PBYGUY wrote:

In this video, Rich has edited shots that were filmed at both Millville and the home of the Fighter Factory in Virginia Beach.

Yes, you may have seen the "dance edit" versions of pop songs, well this was the "midnight and bleary-eyed website edit". I have about 60 minutes of footage, and getting down 1-3 seconds scenes can take a bit of time.

Quote:

Obviously, one won't be pulling these thru by hand.

Hey, I offered! I even brought a 12 foot shipping strap just for that!

Quote:

With a 16:9 gear reduction, just over 3 blades rotates the power section thru a complete cycle

That's fitting, since I shot this in 16:9 aspect ratio widescreen!

Quote:

Lastly, note the trees rustling as the Cat taxi's out. We had 30kt gusts on the surface...

It was kicking the heck out of my audio track too! Okay, I'll stop whining now!

AIRIC · **Posted:** Sat Sep 27, 2008 10:23 pm

Nice work Rich. Looks like you had a great time.

Eric & Berni

The Inspector · **Posted:** Sun Sep 28, 2008 12:30 am

Those really bring back memories from back in the mid 70's riding around in Cousteaus -6 in NooAwlunz after bottom work. They'd gather up everyone not busy in the hanger I worked in , give us a red china marker and a flashlight, and off we'd go. Land in Lake Bourne and taxi around while we all looked for 'leakers' to mark, neat airplane outside but absolutely a working shop inside, no frills, just dive gear everywhere.

Also had a couple of rides in the BIRD INNOVATOR, interesting but electrically and electronically a techs nightmare. On one flight we lost the radios, flew around the pattern @ Lakefront waggling the wings for several orbits, the pilot, a no nonsense Aussie then flew us past the tower, @ cab height and about 50 feet off the windows waggling the wings. The guy in the tower about ruptured himself getting the green light gun unstowed and on.

Nathan · **Posted:** Sun Sep 28, 2008 8:39 am

There needs to be a PBY gathering someday!

richkolasa · **Posted:** Sun Sep 28, 2008 10:01 am

Without major fuel sponsorships, I think we can forget about gatherings when aircraft are spread out across the US and Canada. However, if the AAM in Long Island does get their -6 flying, perhaps Jerry could coax the CWH Canso and the AAM PBY down to Fighter Factory for a three-ship sometime? Get Don Reynolds Albatross from Warrenton over there too and a few other Albatrosses for a "SAR" gathering maybe?

Rich

B25PBYGUY · **Posted:** Sun Sep 28, 2008 10:32 am

Was Ernie Martin flying Cousteau's Cat?

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PBY flight photos and maybe more...

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