Plane Sailing - 44-33915/G-PBYA Canadian Vickers Canso A
owned by: The Catalina Aircraft Limited
Related Notes & Links
The Plane Sailing although owned by the Catalina Aircraft Company is operated on behalf of the Catalina Society and is
flown in the markings of a USAAF OA-10A of 5ERS, with the serial 433915. The original 433915 had a short operational career
that ended by the Aircraft being sunk by Enemy Action whilst unable to take-off from the North Sea
due technical difficulties. After a torrid time, the Crew were eventually rescued.
See Links section below for how to find out more.
Canso A (equivalent to the Consolidated PBY-5A) c/n CV-283 was built by Canadian Vickers for the Royal Canadian Air Force and
taken on charge with the serial 1105. After the War it was converted into a Water Bomber and flew with a number of companies.
In its Water Bomber Configuration, its last operator was
C-FNJF of Province of Saskatchewan Government
(where in the pouring rain on the 11th May 1981 at Toronto International Airport I took a photograph of it).
On retirement from Water Bombing the Aircraft
was eventually extensively converted for use as a Passenger Aircraft. The Company for whom the conversion was carried out never became
operational and after a period of open storage was acquired by Catalina Aircraft Company, made Airworthy and flown in stages to the UK.
See Picture of the Aircraft in 1981:
C-FNJF Canadian Vickers Canso A of Province of Saskatchewan Government
See also a Picture Taken at Southend Airport Airshow 25 May 2008, in murky conditions:
Plane Sailing - 44-33915/G-PBYA Canadian Vickers Canso A
Catalina Society - Web Site
History of 44-33915 - Catalina Society Web Site
History of Plane Sailing - Catalina Society Web Site
Consolidated PBY Catalina - Wikipedia Entry
PBY.COM - Tribute Site
