The Duxford based Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina has become stranded on Loch Ness following engine difficulties it experienced over the weekend while completing some filming projects. The aircraft will require the spare engine to be transported to Loch Ness plus cranes to not only extract the aircraft from the water but also to fit the engine. A GoFundMe page has been set up by the Catalina’s operators and full details are below.
As you can imagine the logistics involved are massive. In order to get the aircraft back to Duxford we need to extract her from the Loch and onto dry land as soon as possible so that the damaged engine can be replaced. Once that’s completed, we then need to put her back onto the Loch so she can be flown home. Otherwise she will be at the mercy of the harsh Scottish winter on a Loch (which as we all know is home to a certain wee beastie!) rather than her usual cosy hanger in Duxford. The damage this could do to the aircraft could be irreparable.
