Just How Stable Is Catalina?

[SpitLead]

That would definitely give this bird a very unique advantage.

[capt. apathy]

Originally posted by Halo


Now I'll have to find a P-38 on FS 2004 to try that throttle only bit, except I think only a seaplane could do that stunt because of the endless "runway."  My current 7.30 X-Plane allows endless takeoffs through obstacles so might try it there.

I think it's only possible because you are in a game and flat water and no wind (unless you you can set those in MSFS).

I think the main reason that plane would be so steady is that the bulk of the weight is well below the wings.   that design doesn't do much for maneuverability but all that weight, that far below the wings, is like a pendulum that self-rights the aircraft.  when you go into a bank the weight swings over to the high-side of the turn and pulls it back down to level.

[Halo]

Good points, capt. apathy.  Here's another Catalina question:  In MSFS 2004, the amphibian can be landed on water even if the landing gear is extended.  In real life, would that be possible?  

If so, would the Catalina and other amphibians then take on water and sink?  Or is gear extended in water also waterproof, perhaps so amphibians can land on water and then taxi up a ramp on to land and vice versa?

Obviously I know little about amphibians.  But they are fascinating.

[Sikboy]

I would think that if Amphibs were ever implemented, there would be seaplane bases for them to operate from at the ports. A water landing should count as a ditch unless you de-spawn at one of these bases IMO.

How does spawning/despawning work in PT boats? (I don't spend a lot of time in em).

-Sik

[memnon]

If the Cat is only used at ports there would be no need for it in the game. How many ports are normally in a set up three maybe four for each side? I think (opinion only) that the Cat should be land based and port based. I would think also since the craft can take off from land and sea that it should be allowed to land on either.


I would think that since the landing gear even when it is retracted is in the water that no water can get into the craft and cause it to sink. It seems to me that if you landed with the gear down that it would rip the gear off which at that point you would probable take on water.

[Sikboy]

Originally posted by memnon
If the Cat is only used at ports there would be no need for it in the game. How many ports are normally in a set up three maybe four for each side? I think (opinion only) that the Cat should be land based and port based. I would think also since the craft can take off from land and sea that it should be allowed to land on either.

Sure, I have no problem with land based Cats. However, I maintain that a water landing, away from a facility should count as a ditch. Any aircraft can land on the ground, but we are only credited with a "successfull landing" if we put it down on the runway.

-Sik

[SpitLead]

I agree Sikboy.  However, given that his airplane will be a 2 engine pig (very low speed) with limited armament for defense (these aircraft never flew in formations like the B17s and Ju88s) it would be a very nice and unique advantage to be able to get a successful landing on water anywhere.  Also, I very much like the ability to fly these out of ports as well as land bases.  Currently if your Port is under attack you need to get there from an adjacent base which is kind of a pain.  Having a Cat there to launch torpedo or bomb attacks on a CV would be good.

[capt. apathy]

ya, but you'd have the guys who fly low over the water and just drop down and land as soon as they see an nme plane.

maybe require them to beach it, or at least require a waiting period before it's logged as a landing.  so if you dive for the water and land, you have to sit a while,  you are vulnerable, and if killed before the time runs out, it's not a landing.

[Grimm]

Originally posted by Sikboy
most of my unit threatened to mutiny if they didn't get a bombing mission (we were in SBDs).

-Sik

I hate SBDs!    

Fromerly known as Grimamoto

[Grimm]

Id like to see the PBY for no other reason than Its a cool looking A/C.

I really dont care about if guys low can quick land and go to tower.   If your worried about losing out a PBY kill,  well thats not much of a kill anyway.   I dont really care about if its a ditch or a landing.  Guys arnt going to be going home with mulit kill sorties in a Cat.

It would certainly be a plane for scenario use more than MA use.

[Sikboy]

Originally posted by Grimm

It would certainly be a plane for scenario use more than MA use.

Yep, I have to agree. I'm holding out that there will be a place for MarPat in ToD if and when it gets to the Pacific.

-Sik

[memnon]

I guess i should have Explained myself when i suggested that the Cat could get a succesful land on water by saying that it has to be near a port.

If you takeoff from an airbase or from a port you would have the choose to either land at an airbase or at a port. In order to get a succesful land at a port you would need to taxi into a spot were a PT boat would spawn. Do you see what i am saying now I'm not saying you can land just anywhere in the water and get credit for landing.

I think the PBY would be great for attacking the nme fleets. I have done some research on the Cat and they carried torps, bombs, and even a few crews put 20mm in the nose for strafing barges.

I think that it would be a great recon plane at least it would give a more realistic feel for recon missions.

[Sikboy]

Originally posted by memnon
In order to get a succesful land at a port you would need to taxi into a spot were a PT boat would spawn. Do you see what i am saying now I'm not saying you can land just anywhere in the water and get credit for landing.

apparently, we're saying the same thing then.

-Sik

[Rockport]

Actually Catalinas did fly in groups of three many times, although mainly when on rescue missions, but from what I have read they also did some hunting of surface ships at night in formation as well...

They were known as the workhorse of the Navy because of the many different rolls they performed.

Long Range Recon
Night Raids (famous Black Cat Squadrons)
Cargo & Troop Movements (Among the small Island groups)



NIcknames: Cat; Mad Cat (When outfitted with Magnetic Anomaly Detection Gear); Black Cat (Night Variant); Pig Boat; P-Boat; Y-Boat (Dutch Navy nickname); Canso/Canso A (Canadian designation); Nomad (Initial "PBN-1" designation of the PBY-6A); Mop (NATO designation for Soviet Lend-Lease PBYs).

Specifications (PBY-6A):
        Engines: Two 1,200-hp Pratt & Whitney R-1830-92 Twin Wasp radial piston engines
        Weight: Empty 19,910 lbs., Max Takeoff 37,420 lbs.
        Wing Span: 104ft. 0in.
        Length: 63ft. 10.5in.
        Height: 20ft. 2in.
        Performance:
            Maximum Speed: 189 mph
            Long-Range Cruising Speed: 137 mph
            Ceiling: 16,700 ft.
            Range: 2,645 miles
        Armament:
            Five 7.62-mm (0.3-inch) machine guns
            Up to 4,000 pounds of bombs, torpedos, depth charges

Originally posted by SpitLead
I agree Sikboy.  However, given that his airplane will be a 2 engine pig (very low speed) with limited armament for defense (these aircraft never flew in formations like the B17s and Ju88s) it would be a very nice and unique advantage to be able to get a successful landing on water anywhere.  Also, I very much like the ability to fly these out of ports as well as land bases.  Currently if your Port is under attack you need to get there from an adjacent base which is kind of a pain.  Having a Cat there to launch torpedo or bomb attacks on a CV would be good.

[Sikboy]

Originally posted by Rockport

They were known as the workhorse of the Navy because of the many different rolls they performed.

Long Range Recon
Night Raids (famous Black Cat Squadrons)
Cargo & Troop Movements (Among the small Island groups)

The Cargo and Long Range Recon missions could be a lot of fun in the ToD structure. I think it would be pretty fun to deliver cargo to a forward base, trying to avoid detection and being forced to divert to another base, refuel and continue. This could be even better if we didn't have the use of the clipboard map (ie, we had to actually plan a flight path and follow it without constant computer updates as to our position). Imagine a bad course change, and getting lost at sea lol.

Maritime Patrol is essential to Naval Air in the pacific theater. Detection is one of the most important aspects of Combat, and Planes like the Catalina and SBD played a major role for the US in this aspect (The Japanese have some cool float planes and flying boats as well... would be pretty cool to have catapult launched E13As or something similar). Imagine if Anti-shipping strike missions would first require a successfull patrol mission? This could work pretty well in the Solomons I think, where you could run land operations constantly, then if someone finds a target while on MARPAT, the mission generator could put together a strike mission for people to join.

I'm really looking forward to this type of thing, and hope that it will be available in the future.

-Sik