Time is flying by but more progress made today. The Day 1 flight plans are firming up following a very useful conversation with staff at NATS about flying over London on the way from Duxford to Southampton. Aberdeen ATC has also been in touch offering assistance especially given the high volume of helicopter traffic in the controlled airspace. Paperwork was submitted to another council about the local air display in that county. Finally, another organisation at a Control Point has agreed funding of the local display. Of course the final question remains will the Daily Mail, the 1913 Circuit of Britain Race sponsor, provide sponsorship in 2013?
Flying Legends and Water Landings
It was a hot weekend at Duxford and that includes the weather. Lots of disappointed visitors asked where the Catalina was and the answer was simple; Austria! She arrived back on Sunday evening at 1830 after a successful trip to the Scalaria Air Challenge. Water was in demand at Duxford during the weekend but in Austria the Catalina water display went very well. Furthermore, all the PBY water rated pilots who fly G-PBYA were able to renew their ratings. With the pilots current on type, the question now is whether there will be a water landing during Project Hawker 2013?
Sponsorship by individuals
Although Project Hawker 2013 has started to see support increasing from local councils and corporate groups it has also been creating interest amongst individuals. In fact a number have asked how they can support Project Hawker 2103. The answer is now to be found on the Sponsors page. If you contribute please email Jeff Boyling so that it can be acknowledged on the website.
50 days to go!
The logistics of the crew change in Oban has been resolved and the locals are gearing up to welcome the Catalina on this historic flight. At long last sponsors are starting to show their hand and the smallest tend to be the most generous. However, more sponsors are needed to cover the costs especially that of fuel. Time to dig deep!
Provisional Dates and Crew Announcement
The provisional dates are given below with the flight being subject to weather and the granting of various approvals. There is still some fine tuning to be made to the flight plan regarding fuel uplifts and local flights. That information plus more precise timings for the displays will be posted in due course. In the meantime, the crew has been selected and details are now posted on the relevant page.
Day 1. Wednesday 21st August. Depart Duxford in the morning to fly down to Southampton and then past Netley Abbey the original start point on Southampton Water. It is then coastal with a minimum crew (CAA rule) displaying in the afternoon at Ramsgate, Great Yarmouth (Gorleston-on-Sea) and Scarborough. The first night will be spent at RAF Leeming courtesy of the Station Commander, Group Captain Reeves.
Day 2. Thursday 22nd. Depart RAF Leeming and return to the coast before flying north, passing Seaham, Beadnell, RAF Leuchars and Montrose before displaying at Aberdeen. The flight then continues passing RAF Lossiemouth, displaying at Cromarty and then down the Great Glen to land at Oban just as the Highland Games are drawing to a close.
Day 3. Friday 23rd. The “Rest Day” in Oban will comprise a morning display, local flight and then the aircraft will be open for inspection in the afternoon. This break also allows a change of Captain and Crew Chief.
Day 4. Saturday 24th. After a final opportunity to view the Catalina in the morning it will then depart Oban and fly down between Jura and Islay to Larne, down the coast past Loughshinny with a display just south of Dublin before continuing to Rosslare and then across the Irish Sea to Pembroke Dock, south to RMB Chivenor and then on to RAF St Mawgan for an overnight stay courtesy of the Station Commander, Wing Commander Lamb.
Day 5. Sunday 25th. Depart RAF St Mawgan for Lands End and then coastal to Falmouth for a display (south west of Pendennis Point) and then continue coastal around the southern side of the Isle of Wight before entering Southampton Water flying past Netley Abbey which was the finish point of the original race. It will then continue on to its base at the IWM Duxford.
Day 6 Monday 26th is a reserve back up day.
On the front page
The Catalina G-PBYA is the cover photo for the June issue of the Guild News (Guild of Air Pilots and Air Navigators = GAPAN). It featured because of its recent involvement in the London Flypast to commemorate the 70th Anniversary of the Battle of Atlantic plus Project Hawker 2013 was mentioned as a prelude to a future article. The brilliant air to air shot was the work of well known aviation photographer John Dibbs. Crowds around the UK will be able to see the Catalina as it flies past and especially at the Control Point air displays.
75 Days To Go !
Great news as progress has been made on a number of fronts. Although a number of councils have shown interest in this 100th Anniversary Commemorative Flight, Great Yarmouth Borough Council is the first to sign up to sponsor a local display. The 1913 Control Point was the Naval Air Station which no longer exists but enthusiasm to see the Catalina perform an air display is growing. A leading petroleum company has committed to supply lubricants for the whole flight. Accommodation for the over night stops has been finalised with special thanks to the Station Commanders at RAF Leeming and RAF St Mawgan and the RAFBF for the kind introductions. Finally, the IWM Duxford is assisting with PR activities for the flight while IWM London will be doing an article on the flight in Despatches. Well done to all involved and many thanks for supporting Project Hawker 2013.
100 Days To Go !
Time is flying by with 100 days to go before G-PBYA sets off on its Circuit of Britain. Last week it flew as part of the Battle of Atlantic Flypast in London and the Circuit of Britain flight will take the historic Catalina past many Coastal Command bases. Also, the Circuit of Britain flight will involve air displays at the Control Points which have been updated for readers on The Route page. However, sponsors are still needed to support this Commemorative Flight so do not be shy in coming forward!
Display Sites
All of the original Control Points for the 1913 Circuit of Britain have been identified by means of archive material gathered over the past two years. Last week saw the last site visited on what was a glorious sunny day. In a number of sites (Yarmouth, Scarborough, Cromarty and Oban) the response from locals has been most welcome. Furthermore, the local councils at those same sites have shown interest in assisting the 100th Anniversary Commemorative Flight by the IWM Duxford based Catalina G-PBYA.
Four months to go!
Time flies when you are busy and having fun!
All the site visits bar one have been completed and display applications are about to be submitted to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). Discussions are also underway with the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) for the Dublin display. Just need an Irish sponsor for that! The route is nearing the final version pending agreement with a couple of airfields for landing approval as well as handling. Enough crew have volunteered to enable a final Captain and Crew Chief selection to be made. On the media front, Flight International, who have endorsed Project Hawker 2013, ran a couple of items at the start of April but the story has also broken in The Oban Times and as recently as last week in the Great Yarmouth Mercury with a superb photograph from 1913. Finally and following a tip-off, Gaumont footage of the Sopwith Waterplane landing at Cromarty has been discovered in the archives!
Project Hawker 2013 