ABOVE – The Catalina II, which is still to be developed and certified, would carry the Pan American iconic ‘Winged Globe’ logo
Catalina Aircraft Trust, the Florida-based holder of the original Catalina amphibious flying boat’s Type Certificate, has announced that a company intends to operate turboprop-powered Catalina IIs bearing the Pan American World Airways’ ‘Winged Globe’ logo.
This announcement is another step toward bringing a modernised turboprop-powered variant of the iconic amphibian to market, as the company claims it has secured a letter of intent from Hong Kong-based Pan American Airways System for up to 46 of the planned NGAA (Next Generation Amphibious Aircraft) Catalina IIs.
Catalina Aircraft is now evaluating engines, avionics and other systems required to develop the aircraft, which founder and president Lawrence Reece notes will be the only Western-certificated transport-category flying boat. The Catalina II will be a variant of the existing ‘28-5ACF’ transport-category certificated Catalina.
PHOTO: CATALINA AIRCRAFT TRUST
