Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina Aircraft Data
The Consolidated PBY Catalina was an American flying boat of the 1930s and 1940s produced by Consolidated Aircraft. It was one of the most widely used multi-role aircraft of World War II. PBYs served with every branch of the US military and in the air forces and navies of many other nations. In the United States Army Air Forces and later in the USAF their designation was the OA-10, while Canadian-built PBYs were known as the Canso.
During World War II, PBYs were used in anti-submarine warfare, patrol bombing, convoy escorts, search and rescue missions (especially air-sea rescue), and cargo transport. The PBY was the most successful aircraft of its kind; no other flying boat was produced in greater numbers. The last active military PBYs were not retired from service until the 1980s. Even today, over seventy years after its first flight, the aircraft continues to fly as an airtanker in aerial firefighting operations all over the world.
The initialism of "PBY" was determined in accordance with the U.S. Navy aircraft designation system of 1922; PB representing "Patrol Bomber" and Y being the code used for the aircraft's manufacturer, Consolidated Aircraft.
During World War II, PBYs were used in anti-submarine warfare, patrol bombing, convoy escorts, search and rescue missions (especially air-sea rescue), and cargo transport. The PBY was the most successful aircraft of its kind; no other flying boat was produced in greater numbers. The last active military PBYs were not retired from service until the 1980s. Even today, over seventy years after its first flight, the aircraft continues to fly as an airtanker in aerial firefighting operations all over the world.
The initialism of "PBY" was determined in accordance with the U.S. Navy aircraft designation system of 1922; PB representing "Patrol Bomber" and Y being the code used for the aircraft's manufacturer, Consolidated Aircraft.
- Country of Origin: United States
- First Flight: 1939
- Initial Service Date: 1941
- No. Built: 803
- No. In Service: 803 (approx.)
- No. of Hardpoints: 4
- Crew: 9
Power:
2 × Pratt & Whitney R-1830-92 Twin Wasp radial engine at 1,200 hp
Weapons:
Guns:
2 × 0.3 inch trainable forward-firing in nose turret
1 × 0.3 inch trainable rearward-firing in ventral tunnel
2 × 0.50 inch trainable guns, 1 in each "blister" beam positions
External:
4 × 1,000 lb or 500 lb bombs, or
12 × 100 lb bombs, or
4 × 650 lb, 450 lb, or 325 lb depth charges, or
2 × Mk 13-2 torpedoes
2 × 0.3 inch trainable forward-firing in nose turret
1 × 0.3 inch trainable rearward-firing in ventral tunnel
2 × 0.50 inch trainable guns, 1 in each "blister" beam positions
External:
4 × 1,000 lb or 500 lb bombs, or
12 × 100 lb bombs, or
4 × 650 lb, 450 lb, or 325 lb depth charges, or
2 × Mk 13-2 torpedoes
Dimensions:
Length: | 63 ft. 10 7/16 in. |
Wing Span: | 104 ft. 0 in. |
Wing Area: | 1,400 sq.ft |
Height: | 20 ft. 2 in. |
Empty Weight: | 20,910 lbs |
Max. Weight: | 35,420 lbs |
Max. Ordnance Load: | 4,500 lbs |
Internal Fuel: | 11,688.54 lbs |
Performance:
Max. Speed: | 179 mph |
Cruise Speed: | 125 mph |
Service Ceiling: | 16,200 ft. |
Normal Range: | 575 nm |
Max. Range: | 2,211 nm |