Help Identifing Aircraft

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308Mike
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Help Identifing Aircraft

Post by 308Mike »

All weekend long, we've been having WWII warbirds flying over our house, since we're in the pattern for Gillespie Field, and frequently, they fly RIGHT OVER OUR HOUSE (or nearby) - so we can get opportunities for some great photos.

One plane in particular made a LOT of noise as it flew overhead, with the DEEP rumble of LARGE radial engines - NOTHING like the powerful whine and purr of the P-51's which fly overhead. This was MUCH more guttural and deep, making the whole house rumble. IT WAS AWESOME!!! However, I've never seen this plane around before and was wondering if anyone else might know what it was and who made it. I never got a view where I could see it straight-on, side-on, or any other significantly revealing views (I have some 1/4 views from underneath).
IMG_7217 - 4 Engine Bomber.JPG
I also got some nice shots of what I believe to be a PBY Catalina:
IMG_7227 - Maybe Catalina.JPG
Unfortunately, it also looks like the 'Cat' has a problem with its port engine:
IMG_7197 - Cat w Port Engine Problem.JPG
So, what is that large, 4-engine bomber (and is that a PBY Catalina)??
IMG_7221 - PBY Near Front View in Flight_x1200.jpg
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Jericho941
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Re: Help Identifing Aircraft

Post by Jericho941 »

Wanna say the first one's a B17. Not sure about the boat.
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Rich
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Re: Help Identifing Aircraft

Post by Rich »

Convair PB4Y Privateer. Modified B-24 with a single fin/rudder. Navy used two different version, and this is probably a -2.
Last edited by Rich on Mon Jun 03, 2013 12:44 am, edited 1 time in total.
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randy
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Re: Help Identifing Aircraft

Post by randy »

That is a PBY Catalina, not up on them enough for the variant.

I don't think what's showing in the picture is a sign of engine trouble, I think it's fairly normal for those engines.
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308Mike
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Re: Help Identifing Aircraft

Post by 308Mike »

Jericho941 wrote:Wanna say the first one's a B17. Not sure about the boat.
I KNOW it's not a B-17, I've flown in one and they fly over the house on a regular basis. Less flights over the house are the B-24 (which I LOVE those roll-up bomb-bay doors).

Here's a B-17:
IMG_6628_B-17_x1100.jpg

And here's a B-24:
IMG_6632_B-24_x1200.jpg
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POLITICIANS & DIAPERS NEED TO BE CHANGED OFTEN AND FOR THE SAME REASON

A person properly schooled in right and wrong is safe with any weapon. A person with no idea of good and evil is unsafe with a knitting needle, or the cap from a ballpoint pen.

I remain pessimistic given the way BATF and the anti gun crowd have become tape worms in the guts of the Republic. - toad
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randy
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Re: Help Identifing Aircraft

Post by randy »

OH, and based on the Cat's registration number, here's a web site with more information that states it's a PBY-5A.
...even before I read MHI, my response to seeing a poster for the stars of the latest Twilight movies was "I see 2 targets and a collaborator".
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randy
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Re: Help Identifing Aircraft

Post by randy »

Again, based on the Registration number, looks like the 4 engine bird is a Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer, a navalized B-24 for patrol ops.

Website

Another pic from the Chino Air show

Wikipedia article
...even before I read MHI, my response to seeing a poster for the stars of the latest Twilight movies was "I see 2 targets and a collaborator".
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308Mike
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Re: Help Identifing Aircraft

Post by 308Mike »

randy wrote:OH, and based on the Cat's registration number, here's a web site with more information that states it's a PBY-5A.
AWESOME!!! THANKS Randy!!!!! My wife will be thrilled to know since she guessed it was a Catalina even before I could say anything (with the camera up to my face). :P :lol: :P

She's getting to know the war birds pretty well, since they fly overhead on a regular basis. She knows the difference in the sounds of a radial engine vs. a V-12 Merlin. She's learned to identify a CH-53 by its sound vs. a CH-46, or even an Osprey (which we're still learning to identify by sound alone).
POLITICIANS & DIAPERS NEED TO BE CHANGED OFTEN AND FOR THE SAME REASON

A person properly schooled in right and wrong is safe with any weapon. A person with no idea of good and evil is unsafe with a knitting needle, or the cap from a ballpoint pen.

I remain pessimistic given the way BATF and the anti gun crowd have become tape worms in the guts of the Republic. - toad
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308Mike
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Re: Help Identifing Aircraft

Post by 308Mike »

Rich wrote:Convair PB4Y Privateer. Modified B-24 with a single fin/rudder. Navy used two different version, and this is probably a -2.
I thought that rear waist window was really a gunner's station and probably had a blister/bubble window with a MG mounted in it. THANKS!!!
POLITICIANS & DIAPERS NEED TO BE CHANGED OFTEN AND FOR THE SAME REASON

A person properly schooled in right and wrong is safe with any weapon. A person with no idea of good and evil is unsafe with a knitting needle, or the cap from a ballpoint pen.

I remain pessimistic given the way BATF and the anti gun crowd have become tape worms in the guts of the Republic. - toad
Greg
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Re: Help Identifing Aircraft

Post by Greg »

308Mike wrote:
randy wrote:OH, and based on the Cat's registration number, here's a web site with more information that states it's a PBY-5A.
AWESOME!!! THANKS Randy!!!!! My wife will be thrilled to know since she guessed it was a Catalina even before I could say anything (with the camera up to my face). :P :lol: :P

She's getting to know the war birds pretty well, since they fly overhead on a regular basis. She knows the difference in the sounds of a radial engine vs. a V-12 Merlin. She's learned to identify a CH-53 by its sound vs. a CH-46, or even an Osprey (which we're still learning to identify by sound alone).
That's really cool. For sheer stupendous sound, you need to experience a rotary. A close flyby from a Sopwith Camel is a feeling as much as a sound.
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