Catalina Engine Problem

[aeropilot]

Simpo Two said:

Smollet said:

Glad she’s ok and safely landed

It never took off!

Quite.

They did make a couple of attempts to take off on the one engine though, but couldn't get enough speed up to lift off the water.

[Smollet]

Simpo Two said:

Smollet said:

Glad she’s ok and safely landed

It never took off!

It must’ve taken off sometime to get there

[normalbloke]

aeropilot said:

Simpo Two said:

Smollet said:

Glad she’s ok and safely landed

It never took off!

Quite.

They did make a couple of attempts to take off on the one engine though, but couldn't get enough speed up to lift off the water.

That’s surprising to hear, is that even half sensible? Or do I need a parrot?

[aeropilot]

normalbloke said:

aeropilot said:

Simpo Two said:

Smollet said:

Glad she’s ok and safely landed

It never took off!

Quite.

They did make a couple of attempts to take off on the one engine though, but couldn't get enough speed up to lift off the water.

That’s surprising to hear, is that even half sensible? Or do I need a parrot?

No parrot needed, and the fact they tried has raised some eyebrows from Cat pilots in the USA when this fact was posted by one of the UK crew.

[BrettMRC]

I wonder just how much of a reaming the idiot who smashed the blister is going to get?

[GliderRider]

BrettMRC said:

I wonder just how much of a reaming the idiot who smashed the blister is going to get?

I should think his insurance company, if he has one, won't be pleased with him. If he's damaged any of the framework of the blister, or any transparencies with either single or double curvature, the bill could be sizeable.

Edit: Having just watched a video of this Catalina, it has one piece blisters by the looks of it. Ouch!!!

Edited by GliderRider on Monday 19th October 14:08

[Dr Jekyll]

GliderRider said:

I should think his insurance company, if he has one, won't be pleased with him. If he's damaged any of the framework of the blister, or any transparencies with either single or double curvature, the bill could be sizeable.

Is it something that could realistically be made from scratch or would it be a case of searching for a spare one?

[aeropilot]

GliderRider said:

I should think his insurance company, if he has one, won't be pleased with him. If he's damaged any of the framework of the blister, or any transparencies with either single or double curvature, the bill could be sizeable.

Edit: Having just watched a video of this Catalina, it has one piece blisters by the looks of it. Ouch!!!

Edited by GliderRider on Monday 19th October 14:08

They posted a photo on their Facebook page taken from inside after the incident......

[Simpo Two]

aeropilot said:

No parrot needed, and the fact they tried has raised some eyebrows from Cat pilots in the USA when this fact was posted by one of the UK crew.

And mine; you only have to look at a flying boat taking off with full power to realise half power, asymmetric, was never going to work.

[motomk]

Simpo Two said:

A PHer, whose name escapes me, used to have a share in a Catalina. Wonder if he still does and if that is it?

Hidden away in here somewhere!

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

[Steve_D]

I think I read in one of the links that the engine had a dead starter.
So, if they were able to get aloft with just one engine could the other have been started using the airstream?

Steve

[aeropilot]

Steve_D said:

I think I read in one of the links that the engine had a dead starter.
So, if they were able to get aloft with just one engine could the other have been started using the airstream?

Steve

No.

Prop would need to be feathered, which from the photo's looks like that's what they did indeed do.

[Eric Mc]

I was only watching it flying at Duxford last weekend. Keeping flying boats on the water ups the risks considerably. They are vulnerable even when just at their moorings.

Sorry to see that one of the blisters got damaged, although I've always though that they should replace those tinted one piece, non-opening blisters with the more authentic two piece, sliding, framed blisters.

[magpie215]

Simpo Two said:

aeropilot said:

No parrot needed, and the fact they tried has raised some eyebrows from Cat pilots in the USA when this fact was posted by one of the UK crew.

And mine; you only have to look at a flying boat taking off with full power to realise half power, asymmetric, was never going to work.

Catalina single engine ops....That'll raise a few eyebrows if the CAA get wind of it.

[Simpo Two]

I just can't believe that some myopic cretin managed to drive his boat into such a big object!

Ah well, get another sheet of acrylic in the mould eh....

[GliderRider]

Given that Catalinas could carry enough fuel for a 32 hour flight, taking off on a single engine with a minimal fuel load doesn't seem so outrageous, particularly when one has the benefit of a 22.5 mile 'runway'. The Catalina's pylon mount wing also means the engines are a lot closer together than on most twin-engined aircraft, so the amount of rudder required would be less than other types.

32 Hour Catalina Flight

I used to chat to chap who was ex-Catalina aircrew. He said that when they reverted to water landings after a period of land-based ops, the thing would leak like a sieve.

[GliderRider]

Eric Mc said:

Sorry to see that one of the blisters got damaged, although I've always though that they should replace those tinted one piece, non-opening blisters with the more authentic two piece, sliding, framed blisters.

Perhaps those frames are corrosion magnets? Maybe the cost of getting a one piece blister made is not wildly different to getting the individual transparencies made and fitted for the multi-piece original?

[FourWheelDrift]

Taylor James said:

Such beautiful planes. One of my favourites. Any good Short Sunderland pics? Any survivors?

Short Sunderland tour

Part 1 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=th1JI90vQtg
Part 2 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XIVnG8k8Q8

[Yertis]

I’m lucky enough to have seen a Sunderland ‘land’, or recover whatever flying boats do, off Lake (Hamworthy) in 1976. No one was expecting it, it was just another day at the beach (if you can call Lake a beach). I think the sea was too rough up in the Solent where it was supposed to be arriving, so the ex-RAF pilot brought it home to what had been RAF Hamworthy thirty years previously. A pass to check the channel, then in it came. Etched on my memory.

[Eric Mc]

GliderRider said:

Eric Mc said:

Sorry to see that one of the blisters got damaged, although I've always though that they should replace those tinted one piece, non-opening blisters with the more authentic two piece, sliding, framed blisters.

Perhaps those frames are corrosion magnets? Maybe the cost of getting a one piece blister made is not wildly different to getting the individual transparencies made and fitted for the multi-piece original?

The tinted blisters were put in when the Catalina was being used as an aerial yacht. I expect it was easier to leave them in place when the current owners bought the aircraft.

I've been on board this Catalina and it was lovely to walk around it - and sit in the cockpit. The interior to the rear of the cockpit is kitted out like a caravan or motorhome - so not really as it would have been in military use 70 plus years ago.

They will have to get some sort of replacement blister now anyway - so it might be worth seeing what could be done regarding obtaining a more authentic looking pair now.

If you watch Kermit Weeks' video on the Sunderland he owns, he talks quite plainly about the worries he had leaving it on the water for any length of time, especially overnight.