Warbird Information Exchange

http://www.pprune.org/d-g-general-aviation-questions/367302-dc-3s-auctioned-today.html

Maybe a interesting outcome.. nothing sold so ... try again i guess

I drove past the DC3's at Bankstown today. They are looking pretty sad. I also stopped in the other day and saw the Catalina on the other side of the airport. I know it had an epic flight to get here. Will it end up at The old base at Rathmines or will it go to Hars? It to looks pretty tired

The Catalina Flying Memorial Ltd was originally founded by members of theSeaplane Pilots Association of Australia with the original intention of buying, restoring and operating a PBY Catalina aircraft for the benefit of the CatalinaAssociation of NSW and the Catalina Aircrew Group.

The Memorial is also supported by the Sunderland Association and the RAAF Maritime Squadrons. It is theMemorial‟s intention to maintain and operate this „Cat‟ in its original configuration.

The aircraft will eventually be based at Rathmines on the shores of Lake MacquarieNSW. Formed in 1939, the RAAF Station at Rathmines became one of the major flying boat bases for the RAAF during World War II, and housed all RAAF Catalinasquadrons at various stages during the war. Following World War II, Rathmines wasused as a training base, and the Officers' Training School formed there in 1950.

The site is now heritage listed and an application for funds has been submitted for the construction of a hangar-style building for use as a museum.VH-CAT will become the second flying Catalina in Australia, but the first to beoperated from both land and water. The other flying Cat is operated by the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society based at Albion Park, NSW, but currently operates as aland plane only.

After a bit of work, including the removal of the water tanks used for fire fighting and some polishing up, the new-look VH-CAT will be ready to serve our community, not only as a flying memorial to the RAAF Catalina and other flying boat crews, but also as a “living” example from a by-gone era that will help educate present and futuregenerations. They will experience first hand what was perhaps the most romantic and graceful aspect of aviation history – the flying boat era. It is aimed to fit the aircraft out with seating to enable paying passengers to enjoy the thrill of flying boat travel. Short scenic flights, as well as longer journeys taking in some or all the cities and towns that played host to the RAAF Catalina squadrons during World War 2 are just a few of the itineraries being considered.