The New Zealand Catalina, registered ZK-PBY, was built under licence as a PBV-1A Canso A (A for amphibian) by Canadian Vickers in Cartierville, Quebec in March 1944. The aircraft, given the construction     number CV-357, was a later unit of 369 aircraft built by this plant. CV-357, entered service with the Royal Canadian Air force and allocated the service number 11054. It is known to have served with No 5 Squadron from bases in Newfoundland, Quebec and Nova Scotia.

Little is known about Sn. 11054’s war service. However Ronald McCLYMONT, at the time a Flight Officer with 5 Squadron based at Yarmouth, Nova Scotia has a couple of entries in his

old ”Flight Log“. An entry dated 29th June 1944 shows that he had flown #11054 practicing ”radio range“ for an hour and twenty five minutes.

A later entry dated 25th September 1944 simply states another flight being a ”TEST“ Ron further stated that #11054 aircraft was equipped with ”Leigh Light" illumination equipment for attacking submarines at night.

 #11054 was declared surplus and struck off charge on the 27th June 1947, having accumulated only 1142.5 flying hours. 

Little is known of its whereabouts and activity between 1947 and 1955 when it appeared in Costa Rica and was converted to a 28-5ACF civilian aircraft by SALA in San Jose. This involved the removal of controls and gauges from the flight engineer’s pylon position and relocation in the cockpit. The front gun turret removed and a semi-clipper bow added.

Other modifications were added for safety. The aircraft returned to Canada registered CF-JCV (later C-FJCV) and was operated by at least seven owners/operators including the Eastern Canada Stevedoring Company, Notre Dame Air Transport, Austin Airways, Aero Trades Western Ltd and Air Caledonia

By the late '80s the aircraft fell into disuse and was in storage at Reno, Nevada. In 1988 C-FJCV was purchased and refurbished for tourist flights down the Nile River by The Catalina Safari Company, Harare, Zimbabwe.

The route proving flight was documented for TV, by the BBC’s World Around Us in "The Last African Flying Boat". The Catalina was registered as Z-CAT and this became its nickname since. The Safaris continued until 1994 when political unrest in several African nations restricted civil aircraft operations.

October 1994 saw Z-CAT take its last epic journey when it travelled through 9 countries covering just under 10,000nm, in 90hrs over 13 days to arrive in New Zealand its new home. Today ZK-PBY is owned and operated by the Catalina Club of New Zealand, a non-profit organisation dedicated to keeping this aircraft airworthy for all to enjoy. The club is run by enthusiastic volunteers who share their enjoyment by participating in aviation and community activities and promoting the organisation around New Zealand. Membership is open to anyone wishing to help preserve this historical and rare Warbird as part of our heritage. The aircraft markings currently represent a PBY-5 operated by No 6 Squadron of the RNZAF

in the Pacific between 1943-1951. The Catalina, Australasia's only airworthy example, is operated on water when possible but is restricted to fresh water lakes of which New Zealand

has many to offer.

ZK-PBY as it appears today, repainted in the markings of NZ-4017 XX-T, a No. 6 Sqn  (RNZAF) aircraft

PBY- 5A "Catalina" Amphibious flying boat

ICAO Designation

CV14

REGISTRATION

ZK-PBY

Call sign

"Warbirds Catalina"

Weights

Empty

20,913 lbs

Normal

27,000 lbs

Max  Take-Off

28,000 lbs

Speeds

Climb

90 kts

Cruise

100 kts

Descent

120 kts

Crew

3 - 4

Passengers

16

Circuits

prefer left hand if possible

1,000 ft AGL slightly larger than average circuit size

Landing

can use up to 1,300 m; usually like whole runway ( back-track)

Ground Handling

104 ft wing span  

large low pressure tyres

max nose wheel turning angle is 30 deg

Parking

under carriage track is 5 m; high wing (can pass over most light aircraft)

grass  or seal is okay; carry own chocks,  covers, etc; aircraft is lockable

Starting

self contained

Run-Up

takes about 10 minutes (first flight of the day only)

Line Up

needs about 15 seconds before rolling

Take Off

needs about 15 seconds before rolling

Line Up

needs about 15 seconds before rolling

Take Off

uses up to 1,000 m of runway

Miscellaneous

could land on water in an emergency

does not normally land in sea water

is registered in "Private" category