The Royal New Zealand Air Force had 56 Catalina's in all between 1943 and 1953. They were registered NZ4001-4056 inclusive and included 22 PBY-5s (mostly MklVAs) with the remainder being PB2B-1 s. All were flying boats, with no amphibian models being taken on charge.After the war only half a dozen or so of the best aircraft were maintained in service with No 5 Sqn (squadron code became KN-) and fitted with the latest search radar which had a large radome behind the cockpit. The remainder were put into storage. Two PB2B-ls were loaned to Tasman Empire Airways (TEAL) for short periods after the war, one (which became ZK-AMI) as a crew trainer, the other (ZK-AMP, former NZ4036) to survey a flying boat route from Fiji to Tahiti, later to become known as "The Coral Route" and used by TEAL's Solent flying boats. These two aircraft were eventually returned to the RNZAF before being scrapped.
Repaint for the Aerosoft Catalina by Jan Kees Blom.
by jankees (2009-06-27 10:56:22)
Repaint for the Aerosoft Catalina by Jan Kees Blom.
by jankees (2009-06-27 10:56:22)
