Welcome to the web site of the Catalina Group of New Zealand

This group is centred on New Zealand's only PBY-5A "Catalina" twin-engine World War Two Canso amphibious flying boat, ZK-PBY. It is currently the only air worthy PBY-5A in Australasia. There are very few "Catalina's" left in the world.

Fifty-six Catalina's (NZ4001-NZ4056) operated with the Royal New Zealand Air Force between 1943 and 1953. Provided under lend/lease arrangements these were a mix of non-amphibious Consolidated and Boeing built aircraft. The Catalina's operated with No's 5 and 6 SQNs and No3 OTU, based at Hobsonville and various points in the Pacific. They were engaged in anti-submarine, shipping escort, air-sea rescue and transport roles. Unlike many lend/lease aircraft, the Catalina's continued to be operated after World War II because they filled a vital role in South Pacific communications.

 Efforts to bring an airworthy Catalina to New Zealand were begun by a syndicate in 1992, and ended with the unfortunate loss of the Boeing Canada built Canso N5404J during the ferry flight after an emergency landing near Christmas Island in the Pacific on January 14th, 1994.
A second project with the syndicate reorganised as the Catalina club brought another aircraft to New Plymouth on October 26th, 1994.

The new aircraft is a Canadian Vickers built Canso (c/n CV-357).
It was delivered to the RCAF in March 1944, and operated on anti-submarine duties. Struck off on June 27th 1947, no records are available until it was converted to 28-5ACF status by SALA in Costa Rica in 1955.

The aircraft spent most of its life in Canada after being sold in July 1956, where it was operated by the Eastern Canada Stevedoring Co and a number of other companies (including Austin Airways of Ontario - Canada's oldest airline. As CF-JVC (and later C-FJVC), it was used to transport people and materials in northern Canada.

In 1988 the aircraft was purchased by French entrepreneur Pierre Jaunet. Jaunet operated the aircraft in Africa as Z-CAT, where the aircraft transported up to 16 passengers (+ 4 crew) between Egypt and Zimbabwe with 'The African Safari Company'. It was hired by the Peter Stuyvesant organisation in 1993 to fly an 'Odyssey' across the Atlantic and back.

With over 14,000hrs on the airframe, the aircraft was sold to the Catalina Club of New Zealand in 1994. Z-CAT made the 20,000km flight to New Zealand in approximately 87 hours over 14 days to become ZK-PBY (registered to The Catalina Co. NZ ltd 23 March, 1995. Painted in the blue and red 'Peter Stuyvesant' plumage when it arrived, the aircraft has been repainted in a wartime scheme to represent NZ4017 XX-T of No.6 SQN RNZAF.

The Catalina Club displays the aircraft at aviation events around New Zealand - apart from a couple of 'special' occasions, the aircraft does not make sea landings, although it has graced a number of lakes around New Zealand. The Catalina Group also makes visits to various NZ airfields allowing many people to see and fly in this historic aircraft.

The Catalina Group comprises three organisations:

The Catalina Club of New Zealand Incorporated

This incorporated society was formed in 1994 and is the base organisation of the Catalina Group. It owns the "Catalina" aircraft. Its aspirations are to own and operate the flying boat off both land and water. Ownership is by a combination of loans from members and by a larger number of lifetime membership subscriptions (see below). It has a total of around 100 members from around New Zealand and overseas, and meets annually, usually at Taupo. It operates in accordance with its club rules. Its committee meets regularly, usually in Auckland.

The Catalina Company (NZ) Limited

This company is the commercial arm or instrument of The Catalina Club of New Zealand Incorporated and is used for conducting mainly financial arrangements on behalf of the Club. The directors of the Company are principals of the Catalina Club.

Friends of the Catalina

This is the largest group and comprises members who wish to support the Catalina Club and its aspirations. It has members all around the world. Most members are from New Zealand but the group is getting a growing number from Australia. 

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