VH-PBZ. Consolidated PBY-6A Catalina. c/n 2043.

Was also registered as: N9562C; CC-CNF; CC-CCS.

 

This aircraft was built by Consolidated at New Orleans as a PBY-6A Canso

Delivered to the United States Navy Air Arm - April 1945

It was allocated the BuNo 46679

Operated mainly within the Aleutian Islands and Alaska region

Deemed to be surplus to requirements and struck-off-charge - August 1956

Placed in open storage at the Naval Air Station Litchfield Park, Arizona

Sold to Aircraft Instrument Corporation, Miami, Florida - 1957

Entered onto the United States Aircraft Register as N9562C - 1957

Sold to TRANSA, Santiago, Chile - 1957

Entered onto the Chilean Aircraft Register as CC-CNF - ?

Converted to civilian standard by Fabrica Nacional de Aeronaves (FANAERO), Los Cerrillos Airport, Chile

Acquired by Roberto Parrague of Aeroservicios Parrague Ltd, (ASPAR), Santiago, Chile - 1959

Withdrawn from use and stored - 1959

Converted to aerial tanker configuration with Fleet No. 79

Reregistered as CC-CCS - April 1980

The aircraft crashed whilst landing at Lago Gotierrez, near San Carlos Bariloche, Argentina - January 27, 1986

Was engaged in fighting a forest fire in one of Argentina's National Parks at the time

The pilot was killed when the aircraft hit a rock on the landing run and sank

Salvaged and dismantled on site ready for road transportion back to Santiago

Aircraft was repaired and returned to service by ASPAR engineers - 1988

Leased to Instituta Para la Conservation de la Naturaleza (ICONA) - June 1991

This is the Spanish Ministry of Land and Forest Management

Arrived Spain at the conclusion of the ferry flight - June 07, 1991

Operated throughout Spain on forest fighting duties

As more modern equipment became available its flying time was reduced

Operated in Portugal on charter to Aerocondor Transportes Aereos

Aircraft observed operating with both Aerocondor and ASPAR titles

Withdrawn from use and stored - 1992

Sold to Historical Aircraft Restoration Society, Australia

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-PBZ - June 04, 2002

Registered to Historical Aircraft Restoration Society, Inc, Albion Park Regional Airport, NSW

Ferried France - Australia - September 2003

Overhaulled, restored and returned to WWII military configuration

Repainted to represent RAAF Catalina A24-362 'OX-V' 'Felix' of No 43 Squadron

Current with the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society

 

 

CC-CCS. Aeroservicios Parrague - in the standard livery at Los Cerrillos Airport, November 1980.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1040-196.)

CC-CCS. Aeroservicios Parrague - in the standard livery at an unknown airport, October 1983.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1040-238.)

CC-CCS. Aspar Icona- in the standard livery at an unknown airport, October 28, 1995.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1040-239.)

CC-CCS. Aerocondor - in the standard livery at an unknown airport, September 2000.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1040-240.)

CC-CCS. Aspar - in the standard livery at Sela Airport, April 2002.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1040-241.)

VH-PBZ. HARS - in the basic Aeroservicious Parrague livery at an unknown airport, August 2003.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1040-197.)

VH-PBZ. HARS - in the standard 'Black Cat' livery at RANAS Albatross Nowra, October 29, 2004.

(G. Canciana Copyright Image 1040-212.)

VH-PBZ. HARS - in the standard 'Black Cat' livery at RANAS Albatross Nowra, October 31, 2004.

(G. Canciana Copyright Image 1040-213.)

VH-PBZ. HARS - in the standard 'Black Cat' livery at RANAS Albatross Nowra, October 31, 2004.

(G. Canciana Copyright Image 1040-214.)

VH-PBZ. HARS - in the standard 'Black Cat' livery at RANAS Albatross Nowra, October 31, 2004.

(G. Canciana Copyright Image 1040-215.)

VH-PBZ. HARS - in the standard 'Black Cat' livery at RAAF Point Cook, February 06, 2005.

(G. Canciani Copyright Image 1040-216.)

VH-PBZ. HARS - in the standard 'Black Cat' livery at Avalon Airport, March 18, 2005.

(P. Vabre Copyright Image 1040-203.)

VH-PBZ. HARS - in the standard 'Black Cat' livery at Avalon Airport, March 18, 2005.

(P. Vabre Copyright Image 1040-204.)

VH-PBZ. HARS - in the standard 'Black Cat' livery at Avalon Airport, March 18, 2005.

(P. Vabre Copyright Image 1040-205.)

VH-PBZ. HARS - in the standard 'Black Cat' livery at Avalon Airport, March 19, 2005.

(G. Canciani Copyright Image 1040-217.)

VH-PBZ. HARS - in the standard 'Black Cat' livery at Avalon Airport, March 19, 2005.

(G. Canciani Copyright Image 1040-218.)

VH-PBZ. HARS - in the standard 'Black Cat' livery at Avalon Airport, March 19, 2005.

(P. Vabre Copyright Image 1040-206.)

VH-PBZ. HARS - in the standard 'Black Cat' livery at Avalon Airport, March 21, 2005.

(P. Vabre Copyright Image 1040-207.)

VH-PBZ. HARS - in the standard 'Black Cat' livery at Avalon Airport, March 21, 2005.

(P. Vabre Copyright Image 1040-208.)

VH-PBZ. HARS - in the standard 'Black Cat' livery at RAAF Williamtown, September 18, 2010.

(G. Canciani Copyright Image 1040-219.)

VH-PBZ. HARS - in the standard 'Black Cat' livery at RAAF Williamtown, September 18, 2010.

(G. Canciani Copyright Image 1040-220.)

VH-PBZ. HARS - in the standard 'Black Cat' livery at Albion Park Regional Airport, February 26, 2011.

(P. Vabre Copyright Image 1040-209.)

VH-PBZ. HARS - in the standard 'Black Cat' livery at Albion Park Regional Airport, February 26, 2011.

(P. Vabre Copyright Image 1040-210.)

VH-PBZ. HARS - in the standard 'Black Cat' livery at Albion Park Regional Airport, February 26, 2011.

(P. Vabre Copyright Image 1040-211.)

VH-PBZ. HARS - in the standard 'Black Cat' livery at Albion Park Regional Airport, February 27, 2011.

(P. Vabre Copyright Image 1040-201.)

VH-PBZ. HARS - in the standard 'Black Cat' livery at Avalon Airport, February 27, 2015.

(S. Morgan Copyright Image 1040-243.)

VH-PBZ. HARS - in the standard 'Black Cat' livery at Avalon Airport, March 01, 2015.

(S. Morgan Copyright Image 1040-242.)

VH-PBZ. HARS - in the standard 'Black Cat' livery at Avalon Airport, March 01, 2015.

(S. Morgan Copyright Image 1040-244.)