Truly one of the great ships.

http://www.nxtbook.com/fx/medi...U3i9mNk2WnlSwfvifrlA

Fixing them was a matter of finding a quiet cove , get out the ladders and tools and replace bad parts !
For similar duty there were a few C-47 float planes. .The last one I heard of was for sale in New England .The good old days !!

The C-47 Float plane had floats going from nose to cargo door !!

A C-47 float plane! I had never dreamed of such a thing. Very cool!

And then there was the Granddaddy of all war era float planes - Martin JRM Mars



Only seven built and only one left flying today - The Hawaii Mars a Canadian water bomber soon to be retired. Float planes are cool, but the cost of operation is ridiculous.

Hi guys
Really nice to watch reminds me of the thousands of hours and hundreds of fires I put 5000+ drops on.I loved that old girl,what I wouldn't give to fly a couple hours again.
Bill

Great scott, Bill, what wonderful memories to have! Congratulations.

What a great old amphib....one of my first airline flights was in a PBY....Annette Island in SE Alaska to Ketchikan, before the runway was built....take off from the old Air Base on Annette and land in town on the water...great flight!!

If you want a Type Rating in a PBY, there is one in Arlington WA with an old NW Captain IP that will prepare you for the Check Ride...I recall about $10K for the package + examiner cost??!!

You would enjoy the people involved including the owner...all old aviation luminaries and War Bird fliers too.

Cheers,

Eddy, do they give rides for non-pilots? I'd love to go for a spin in a PBY. Never done a water landing.

Bill,

I believe that it is limited by the FAA to essential crew members? I will ask Fred and get back to you.
This one is set up as a fire bomber but has not had contracts last couple of seasons that I know of. That said it is well maintained and regularly run up.
Cheers,

Speaking of float planes, years ago there was a lovely picture on the wall at Kenmore Air Harbor of a 747 on floats. It was in Kenmore livery (yellow and white). KAH near Seattle is the world's largest float plane operator. The artist was truly inspired, though not necessarily sober.