Simviation Forums

Good evening all...

Well I spent a bit more time on this electronic gizmo trying to do a Stormy Flight...
Screenshots didn't come out quite the way I wanted...need more advice and practice on this idea...

FSX Deluxe + Acceleration and Windows 10 Home
Orbx Scenery
Chose two different Weather Themes...perhaps I should purchase a new edition of REX as mine is way out of date and not installed
If there is a better Weather Engine feel free to mention it here please..

Simulated aircraft:
Two models of the Aerosoft Consolidated Catalina PBY6A...
Military Version and a Civilian Version (CALYPSO) pictured on a Final Approach in the last 2 Screenshots

Included both cockpit versions which are lit up by flashes of Lightning

This simulated flight would have been a piece of pie in a modern motion simulator but on a table top simulator using a joystick and keyboard it was a nightmare...especially the approach...

4 Screenshots are of Military Version of PBY6A

Black Cat lit up by lightning...




Rain and cloud...cockpit lit up by lightning...




Civilian Version of PBY6A


Turbulence has the Pig Boat bouncing about like a cork on water...


Comments and Advice would be most appreciated...

wow...super drama..........my kinda plane

Great!

Thanks yancovitch and papituwall...much appreciated for your comments...

Just curious, what is the difference between a PBY5A Catalina and a PBY6A Catalina?

just wondering,
Jim

Good morning Jim

Think you might find some info here...


https://www.catalina.org.uk/catalina-history/

and here

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consolidated_PBY_Catalina

Thanks for the references. I never new that there was a 6A version until now. Also I was unaware that the original was a straight flying boat and not an amphib.

One thing about SimV, stay long enough and you will certainly learn something---over and over--wonderful education.

Thanks again,
Jim

You are most welcome Jim...

Just a quick note:
The Canso's I flew had both what we called Dutch Doors which were in two parts and opened up and down...they were metal and looked like they streamlined the sides of the aircraft.

The other option was the Blisters which opened up.

The Blisters actually increased the Pig Boats speed by a knot or two...

All Freight was loaded through these openings...it was a manual operation and loading and unloading in areas with no docks where the aircraft was on the water out from shore with engines running to stay into wind was a dangerous and time consuming operation. Drums and Freight were lifted down into a flat bottom boat which took it too shore...hopefully.
We also did away with the Flight Engineer who sat in the Pylon which attached the wing to the Fuselage...he had a small window to look out on either side of the Pylon.

In the winter when the water was frozen over we used Daks (C47s, DC3s) to do the same job...they were equipped with wheel skis. The skis would have several settings...Full UP...3/4...1/2...1/4 and Full Down. This aircraft was a bitch to load and unload if the metal floor got wet as it had a tail wheel and everything was moved uphill or down towards the tail and out the Double Doors on Port Side.

Being a pilot then...you earned your pay along with the two other men with you...your co-pilot and crewman...no Unions...long hours...and crappy weather...

so much for the romance eh?