A Plane Ride into the Past – and Future
On August 5th, I snagged a ride on a PBY-5a “Catalina” flying boat, one of the classic “warbirds.”
This particular plane, #9767, “The Princess of the Stars,” played a significant role in WW2 – it was one of only 25 or so PBYs that sank a sub in WW2. Later, in private service, it crossed the oceans multiple times, doing everything from hauling people and freight to fighting forest fires with water drops.
Now, she’s owned by a non-profit foundation, the Soaring by the Sea Foundation, based in Eugene, Oregon, dedicated to preserving history and informing the future. Anyway, I got lucky and got invited aboard for a flight, which included a water take-off and landing. Best ride this side of Disneyland!
In the video, I mention that I’d grown weary of jet travel – for business or pleasure – but this flight rehabilitated my deep, lifelong love of flying. Not being a passenger on planes… flying.
Come on aboard for an 18-minute zen moment!
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