September 2016: Nearly a flight in a Catalina...

 In the summer of 2016 I saw something about flying along in the Dutch Catalina PH-PBY. The plane would do two 'touch and go' landings on the IJsselmeer, and then land again on the airfield it took off from: Lelystad.

That sounded very interesting to me, a lifelong plane fanatic. A friend of mine, Erik, was also into historic planes, and flying boats in particular. So we planned to go together in September. This was very exciting.

So the day came closer. The evening before the flight however I got a message that the flight was cancelled due to the weather conditions (choppy water on the lake). It was impossible to plan another flight that year, but there's always next year...

2017: During the first half of the year there was no suitable moment for us to fly, so we aimed for the second half. But in August 2017 the Catalina had to make an emergency landing due to a failing (stuck) nose wheel. She landed on her belly, doing quite some damage to the hull. So that was it for 2017. 

In 2018 the Cat was being repaired. Maybe the second half of the season she would fly again. But dark clouds loomed. No income for a year is killing for an organization trying to keep such an expensive plane flying. Soon enough it became known that PH-PBY was being sold to the US. Only the people who had already booked in 2017 before the crash were given a last chance to fly this lovely bird. I was not one of them. So that dream was shattered...



Reacties

Een reactie posten

Populaire posts van deze blog

27 July 2019: Dutch Dakota over Frisian Lakes

Afbeelding
Fast Forward to 2019. Looking for an alternative for the missed flight in the Catalina, I found the Dutch Dakota Association. It was possible to book a flight aboard PH-PBA. This Dakota has quite a bit of history. It was build in 1944. It took part in Operation Overlord. She dropped paratroopers near the beaches of Normandy. Then in September of the same year, she towed a glider during Operation Market Garden. Then after the War, the plane was gifted to HRH Prince Bernard, the husband of future Queen Juliana. The Prince found out pretty quick that owning a Dakota is quite an expensive hobby. So he gave the plan to the Dutch government, with the condition that he be allowed to fly her any time he wanted. That sounds like a nice deal! As a government plane, PH-PBA flew during the Berlin Airlift. Later in life she became a plane used for scientific work. After hanging is a museum, she finally became part of the fleet of the Dutch Dakota Association. So I picked a flight. I wanted to start...
Meer lezen

13 October 2020: Klemm KL35D, Trainer of the Luftwaffe

Afbeelding
After missing the chance to fly in a warbird at Egmond Vintage Wings' Open Hangar Day, I went back to the airfield nearly two months later. The weather wasn't great, it was cold and grey. But hey, I got to fly along in an historic plane! The Klemm I originaly wanted to fly was repaired, so this was the plane of choice. This KL35D (D-ECCI) was build in 1940, and used during the war to train future Luftwaffe pilots. It was a strange feeling to be sitting where once these pilots sat before they went to war in Messerschmitts, Junckers, Focke Wulfs and Heinkels... It was quite exciting to go into the air in an open cockpit. I hadn't flown in many planes back then. And there was not a lot plane around you. But after a short feeling of uneasiness it was beautiful! I had a GoPro on my wrist and a photo camera in my other hand. Shame about the grey weather, but that's what to be expected in October.
Meer lezen

19 September 2021: Second time in the Dutch Dakota

Afbeelding
  As a friend of the Dutch Dakota Association I had to fly PH-PBA again as soon as covid would allow it. In 2020 there were no flights, so 2021 was the first opportunity. This time I took my eldest daughter along for her first flight in a plane. I want my children to have their first flight in style! This time we flew from Eelde (Groningen Airport EHGG). We flew over the city of Groningen en over the surrounding countryside. It was beautiful flight in sunny weather, so we could see a lot. But it is ofcourse all about those engines in a classic airframe which makes all the difference.
Meer lezen