Catalina @ Loch Ness

[np1991]

Unsure if this should be in here or low level section but anyway, a few from both side of Loch Ness of Catalina G-PBYA operating over the Loch around Urquhart Castle on Friday and Saturday.

1,
Catalina Over Loch Ness by Niall Paterson, on Flickr

2,
Catalina Over Loch Ness by Niall Paterson, on Flickr

3,
Catalina Over Loch Ness by Niall Paterson, on Flickr

4,
Catalina Over Loch Ness by Niall Paterson, on Flickr

5,
Catalina Over Loch Ness by Niall Paterson, on Flickr

6,
Catalina Over Loch Ness by Niall Paterson, on Flickr

7,
Catalina by Niall Paterson, on Flickr

8,
Catalina Over Urquhart Castle by Niall Paterson, on Flickr

9,
Catalina by Niall Paterson, on Flickr

10,
Catalina + Urquhart Castle by Niall Paterson, on Flickr


Unfortunately it developed an issue with one of its engines so is moored near Drumnadrochit.
Thanks for looking.

[Punkrunner62]

Stunning Niall, just stunning.
Cheers.

[Mike]

Quality shots there Niall
Did the starboard engine stop when it was in the air or when it was still on the loch yesterday? Apparently it needs a new starter motor and one of the perspex blister windows has been smashed by a RIB (not the RNLI one that towed it back to Temple Pier).

[dragonchaser]

What a super set, great aircraft!

[Thunder]

Wow wow and wow!! No1 & 3 are great but No7 is absolutely superb

[F3]

Fabulous set of a Cat in/on its natural element and in such stunning scenery. Scotland at its best. What's not to like?

[paddyboy]

Hi Niall

I’m almost speechless looking at those

Superb shots

Thanks for posting

Paddyboy

[Calum1991]

Stunning set, Niall. Wish I could have made it up.

[np1991]

Thanks folks, much appreciated.

Mike, it shut down and started again a couple times on the Loch on Saturday, however one of the times it went to start nothing happened. One engine would start ok but other wasn't playing. Shame really as I think they were finished for the day and heading back to Inverness when the issue occurred.

[Morseman]

Beautiful, thanks.

[Supra]

Great set of shots in a super location. Last image appears to show stbd engine stopped & feathered on the landing run? The penultimate shot also shows same engine with prop feathered. Surely an unusual configuration & not a starter motor issue?

[roughcutter]

Brilliant set of shots and in a great setting too, not something you'd see everyday. Right place right time I read in Flypast recently that 'Miss Pick Up' was soon due to fly out to Italy - Lake Como (Lombardy), don't know whether it's going to be based there or an airshow event?

[Pippie123]

Brilliant

[eLaReF]

Wow wow and wow!! No1 & 3 are great but No7 is absolutely superb

Seconded

[Mike]

Anyone got a spare £20,000? https://www.gofundme.com/f/misspickup?u ... y_link_all

[falconfighting]

How did I miss these - stunning

[Pune]

Fabulous images, what a treat for those around the Loch, thanks for sharing..

[DavieB]

Anyone got a spare £20,000? https://www.gofundme.com/f/misspickup?u ... y_link_all

Great to see they have hit their target.

And fantastic shots there Niall.

[Mike]

The latest from their funding page (they're now looking for £29,400) :-

What was originally thought to be just a fault starter motor has turned out to be something inside the engine itself shearing and preventing the starter motor from turning the engine over. The only solution is to change the engine and send the damaged one off for overhaul.

As you can imagine the logistics involved are massive and we have split them into three phases:

Phase 1 - Removing Miss Pick Up from the Loch to dry land (actual cost over £13,000)
Phase 2 - Performing the engine change away from base (estimated cost £8600)
Phase 3 - Returning Miss Pick Up to the Loch to fly her home (estimated cost £7800)

We have managed phase one of the operation but we're still a long way from being able to get her returned to her home in Duxford.

Phase 2 will involve transporting our spare engine from Duxford to Loch Ness and then spending two to three weeks swapping them over. This will involve more cranes to winch the damaged engine off and then replace in which is not an easy task, especially out in the open and away from the facilities of our home base. The damaged engine will then need to be returned to Duxford to be accessed.

Phase 3 will involve another big crane to put her back onto the Loch along with boats to ensure it all goes well. Once back on the water, we will take her to Inverness for a final check before flying her back home to Duxford.

[DavieB]

Ah, thanks Mike, had donated but somehow missed the new target, must pay more attention....