PBY-5A Catalina Super Cat Mod update

PBY-5A Catalina Super Cat Mod update

The ultra clear windshield material as well as reduced framing is seen here in this bows on shot — photo by Joseph May

This big beautiful black Catalina sits at the Wings Over Miami Air Museum — and has been doing so for years as possession is resolved after the death of her latest owner. She is no ordinary Consolidated PBY 5-A Catalina but is a Super Cat modification making the aircraft much more powerful as well as capable. An earlier post describing the modifications involved were addressed previously — use the search window with “Super Cat” to find it as well as more photos — but essentially the engines are stronger and the tail has been enlarged. Maintenance work has continued on the Catalina as the legal issues move toward resolution. I was last there at the museum near the end of January and noticed the waist blisters, which had been lying behind the PBY for a bit, have been installed. They are incredibly clear and give an even better view since there is no longer any framing — the framing is no longer needed to provide a sliding portion for crew access has been eliminated. The cockpit windshield has also been replaced with the same ultra clear material. More posts about the Wings Over Miami Air Museum can be seen by pasting the museum’s name into the search window and selecting ENTER 🙂

The fuselage blisters are now so clear that you can easily see from one side through the other and the main cabin window has received the same treatment, note the work in progress on the port aileron area — photo by Joseph May