RIAT 2013 Catalina PBY-5A

The Consolidated Catalina PBY flying boat is without doubt the world's most famous amphibious aircraft ever. It was a Catalina of the RAF Coastal Command that spotted the elusive German battleship Bismarck in May 1942 which led to the destruction of the unsinkable ship.

During World War Two, PBYs were used in anti-submarine warfare, patrol bombing, convoy escorts, search and rescue missions (especially air-sea rescue), and cargo transport. The PBY (the designation stands for 'Patrol Bomber' with 'Y' being the code assigned to manufacturer Consolidated Aircraft) was the most numerous aircraft of its kind and the last active military PBYs were not retired from service until the 1980s.

Even today, nearly 80 years after its first flight, the aircraft continues to fly as a water bomber in aerial firefighting operations all over the world.
From a staggering total of 4,051 Catalina's produced between June 1937 and May 1945 only a handful of airworthy Catalina's are still in flyable condition with the one appearing in the flying display coming from its base at Duxford.

Видео RIAT 2013 Catalina PBY-5A канала Elwyn R