What was this flying over?

[eldar]

Flying fairly slow, what looked to be USAF wing markings. Nothing appearing on flight radar. Ive no idea what it was.

East midlands.

[LimaDelta]

Catalina?

[eldar]

LimaDelta said:

Catalina?

Kind of, but the fuselage looked the wrong shape, and no wing floats.

[roadsmash]

Well, it’s a terrible picture!

The proximity of the two engines to each other suggests that the engines are mounted above the fuselage. The rest of the fuselage, although unclear, does represent that of the Grumman Albatross. There’s one that’s recent been flying around the UK, and is often see at Lee-On-The-Solent.

Could this be what you saw?

[FourWheelDrift]

eldar said:

Kind of, but the fuselage looked the wrong shape, and no wing floats.

Wing floats retract to the wing tips.

[LimaDelta]

FourWheelDrift said:

eldar said:

Kind of, but the fuselage looked the wrong shape, and no wing floats.

Wing floats retract to the wing tips.

yep.

[zsdom]

Looks like a Vulcanair Victor

[magpie215]

Catalina.. was at southport airshow today.

Edited by magpie215 on Sunday 14th July 16:21

[eldar]

LimaDelta said:

FourWheelDrift said:

eldar said:

Kind of, but the fuselage looked the wrong shape, and no wing floats.

Wing floats retract to the wing tips.

yep.

Thanks, catalina it was, it was a little too far away to get a good view or picture.

[GliderRider]

The Catalina is much wider than it looks in anything but plan view.

The wartime 'Oddentification' emphasised this width relative to the engine spacing:



Here's the three view:

[Eric Mc]

Definitely a PBY Catalina.
The markings it carries are not USAF.

They are the American roundel and bar carried by both USAAF and US Navy aircraft from 1942 to 1947.