Abandoned Catalina

[Njaco]

While searching for some pics of a Cat I found these 2 websites with some info about an abandoned and rusting Cat on a beach. Such a shame to just let it rust away.

Abandoned Catalina seaplane: 50 years between the sea and the desert

flying boats Taylor Empire Airways

 

[Vic Balshaw]

That first Cat I have visited Chris when I worked at Tabuk in Saudi in the early 80s, it broke my heart to see it as it's my favourite aircraft. It was about 4 hours by road back then and one had to get permission from the local authorities to go beyond 25K outside the base, they gave you a pass which you could not travel without. The Cat was not on our pass and we had to sneak of the main track to take a peek. One old Bedouin got a bit upset that we were poking around the Cat and would not let us take photos. How times must have changed. We were heading a bit further down the cast to hunt crayfish at night. Gosh, I can still taste them now, so fresh and sweet.

 

[A4K]

Great find Chris, and great story Vic!
Hopefully someone will recover her and restore her.

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Wow what a shame that it is just rotting away. Amazing story though.

 

[evangilder]

Looking at the condition of the one in Saudi, I have doubts that it could be made flyable without breaking someone's bank. It's sad that it has been left to rot for so long.

 

[A4K]

Could come in handy for a static rebuild though Eric. There are two Cats under restoration in NZ and Oz for example which are both lacking wings.

 

[evangilder]

Here is Kendall's second PBY, donated to the San Diego Air and Space Museum.

 

[Njaco]

Crap, they made it a static display.

 

[Arsenal VG-33]

Very nice find, and nice website too. I know exactly where the Straits of Tiran is located, and immediately went searching for the Cat on googlemaps. After a few minutes I found it, here it is -

Google Maps

Unfortunately it appears the wing has since broken off and seems to be at an odd angle to the fuselage. I wonder if something like that could be restored? The engines don't look half bad at all. Zoom out from the image and across the little bay you will see an outpost, the single road and an old oil well tower.

 

[A4K]

Damn, looks like you're right about the wing mate. Hope someone gets her out of there and in a restoration hangar SOON.

 

[vikingBerserker]

Geees, that's just tragic.

 

[Micdrow]

Still it looks to be in decent shape compared to some wrecks Ive seen that where restored to flying condition. Im really suprised some group does not try to recover it.

 

[wheelsup_cavu]

Thanks Njaco.
The background story on how it ended up there was...


Wheels

 

[diddyriddick]

Very sad! If I won the lottery....

 

[beaupower32]

Yep, a sad thing indeed. I hope someone gets it soon and starts working on her.

 

[Messy1]

Very unfortunate. Too bad. I am sure the money involved to get the permission to recover the plane from all the local political groups involved would add a large expense to the restoration too. I'm sure it will sit there and rot.

 

[Capt. Vick]

I saw a follow-up picture of this bird a little while back. Sadly, there is not as much left as these pictures would lead you to believe...

 

[Gnomey]

Very sad to see if what Vick is saying is correct then I doubt she is salvageable.

 

[r2800doublewasp]

Found this:
Google Image Result for http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n134/martincj/mk23961_hpim2729.jpg
Doesnt look good guys

 

[wheelsup_cavu]

Considering the thread you linked is 2 years and 10 months old Doublewasp it makes it even more unlikely that much can be salvaged.


Wheels