utility vs. style: a closer look at PBY bow designs

utility vs. style: a closer look at PBY bow designs

Consolidated started working on the first drafts of their Model 28 in October 1933 in a bid to win a promising U.S. Navy contract. Upon winning the contract, the aircraft was assigned its official designation: PB for its role as Patrol Bomber, followed by Y, the manufacturer s code for Consolidated. A legend was born. Over the next 80 years, the iconic PBY Catalina became the most successful flying-boat design of all times, with over three thousand units built between 1936 and 1945 and an uncanny proficiency in any role it could possibly be given, be it patrol, search and rescue, firefighting, commercial service or luxurious flying yacht. With its versatility in all elements coupled with its range and endurance, the tough PBY would make you believe it could achieve anything. Of course, such a long career was not possible without modifications along the way. In the nine years of its production run, no less than 28 official variants were built by Consolidated as well as other manufacturers, with various refinements such as higher power engines, the addition of observation blisters, redesigned tail section and turrets... and amphibious capabilities with the addition of a retractable landing gear. After the war, even more official and non-official modifications were designed by the various PBY operators, the most noteworthy being the invention of scoops that allowed them to use the aircraft as an efficient water bomber. This article will focus on an area that underwent many changes, sometimes subtle, often difficult to track: the PBY s bow.

The early years & world war II The bow on the XPBY-1 prototype bow housed a turret equipped with a.30 caliber machine gun and the bombsights window. This configuration was virtually unchanged when the aircraft went into production and it became the de facto standard bow for the PBY line from the PBY-1 to the PBY-5 and -5A. the XPBY-1 turret It saw a major evolution following the Naval Aircraft Factory s work on the PBN-1 Nomad, a heavily redesigned PBY-5. The Nomad series (see next page) was a pure flying-boat, and featured a completely new bow with a more streamlined profile and a collapsible turret. a PBY-5 in flight The Nomad paved the way for the -6A, and its so-called eyeball turret. Some PBY-5As were also upgraded to the new turrets. the turret on a PBY-6A

close-up on the pbn-1 nomad The Naval Aircraft Factory made significant modifications to the PBY design, many of which would have significantly interrupted deliveries had they been incorporated on the Consolidated production lines. The new aircraft, officially known as the PBN-1 Nomad, had several differences from the basic PBY. The most obvious upgrades were to the bow, which was sharpened and extended by two feet, and to the tail, which was enlarged and featured a new shape. Other improvements included larger fuel tanks and stronger wings. An auxiliary power unit was installed, along with an improved electrical system, and the weapons were upgraded with continuous-feed mechanisms. 138 of the 156 PBN-1s produced served with the Soviet Navy. The remaining 18 were assigned to training units. Later, improvements found in the PBN such as the larger tail were incorporated into the amphibious PBY-6A. Sources: Bridgeman 1946, p. 247. Naval Aircraft Factory PBN-1 Nomad. Aviation Enthusiast Corner. (via Wikipedia)

Even though the great majority of them were built with the standard turret in place, there were several units built with a factory installed turretless bow, destined for executive transport. The Double Sunrise Catalinas flew the longest commercial flights (in terms of time aloft) ever made in aviation history. Operated by Qantas, they flew weekly from June 1943 through July 1945, offering non-stop service between Perth and Colombo, a distance of 3,592 nm (5,652 km). Although unarmed and stripped of all non-essential equipment, the planes kept their bow turret. A notable example of a purely civilian pre-war PBY is NC18997, a PBY-4 delivered to American Export Airlines in 1938.

The Soviet GST, based on the PBY-5, also had their share of modifications. The GST turret had a slightly more rounded design (top right). Other models had an open hatch and windscreen instead of the turret. (below) The Nomad-based Каталина КМ-2 (right) had a more standard faired-over bow. (Note as well the distinctive four-bladed props of the Soviet models.) Previous page: the evolution of U.S. military bows.

POST-WAR MILITARY mods Some U.S. Search & Rescue models also came with a slight modification, a wedge-shaped cover added over the bombsight window. The purpose of this cover is unclear, but given the S&R role of the modified aircraft, it could be an attempt to deflect water spray away from the windshield when taxiing on the water looking for the person to be rescued.

Search & Rescue PBYs in the Royal Canadian Air Force were sometimes equipped with an observation bubble added to the fairing, using the original turret ring (top). On the right, a good view of the nose of N427CV.

OFF DUTY: CIVILIAN CATS The Chartreuse Goose. As shown here, Landseaire models could carry two dinghies under the wings. The versatility of the PBY amphibians couldn t stay unnoticed for long. As hundreds of planes were demilitarized and sold to corporations, airlines and other non-governmental agencies, a few wealthy individuals were quick to spot the Catalina s potential as a luxurious, long-range flying yacht. Thus was born the most glamorous version of the Catalina: the Landseaire.

The Landseaire bow (top) was a complete redesign to enhance both the performance in flight and the efficiency of water operations. The elegant look, reminiscent of the old Pan Am clippers, gave it the nickname Clipper bow. Strictly speaking, the Landseaire denomination was only given to a few models as the specifications went far beyond the bow redesign, but the Clipper style was copied on several others with varying degrees of success (left). Top: C-FCRR (now N9767) Left: G-PBYA (top) and N423RS (bottom)

On EC-EVK (right, now VH-EAX), the original turret was removed but the turret ring was kept, with the whole nose covered under an epoxy cover that was then screwed in place. Several PBYs operating as water bombers were modified with this bow assembly. For some reason, they all appear to be PBY-6As. N85U (Note the signature cowlings of the Wright Cyclone conversion, marking it as a Super Cat.) N9825Z in 1990. As of 2012, the epoxy bow seems to have been removed to restore its original look.

close-up: INSIDE EC-EVK These four photos show the inside of EC-EVK. The turret ring is clearly visible, as are the screw holding the nose assembly in place. The -6A s triangular bombsight is also painted over. Although it preserves the turret ring, the epoxy bow does not have a hatch, therefore forcing the crew to exit through the cockpit roof for water operations (mooring, etc.)

The workhorses used in mining survey flights, cargo ops and other kinds of bush flying in the far out places of the world did not need the refined looks of their French Riviera cousins, and were simply adapted for their new duties, sometimes rather crudely. CF-IEE, seen here on the right, had a simple cover placed over the turret to close it once the guns were removed. Others like N5591V (left) sported the same modification but with a transparent cover serving as a window. The ill-fated PBY-6A N101CS, flown by Philippe Cousteau, had a unique look, with its peculiar fairing over the nose.

a COMMON line For most of the PBYs sent to civilian life, a faired-over nose leaving the lower part of the hull untouched, with the bombsight obscured or painted, became a de facto standard. The resulting silhouette became the signature look of the Catalina. (above: Super Cat N287) Below: Can you tell the difference between a PBY-5A (left), and a -6A (right)? When looking at the nose, the clue is usually the distinct triangular bombsight on the latter.

FAMILY REUNION The PBY Catalina throughout the ages: a recap of styles and choices... and a few odd cats! Three mods in one shot! A fantastic side-by-side showing closed-off turret (left), epoxy cover (center) and Clipper bow (right)

A rare sight: a passenger-carrying PBY-4 featuring a clipper bow Despite being painted in U.S. Navy colors, N31235 (right) has retained its oddly-tipped Clipper-inspired civilian bow. The recently scrapped YV-584CP (left) seemed to have featured a strange, abruptly cut-off bow, although it could be that she was gradually dismantled during her last years in the scrapyard.

Not all PBYs had a round hatch. Above, see two examples of alternative doors. Written & edited by Raphael Relat (rrelat@freylia.net) for and with the help of the PBY Yahoo! Group Many thanks go to everyone who contributed insights, remarks, and pictures to this article.

04.2013 freylia studios distributed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0)