Was at a mates workshop in Hopetown Park Vic which is about 50km west of
Melbourne, just heading home about 4.30pm and we heard a noise overhead,
looked up and a large low flying aircraft was heading straight toward us.
Not 100% sure but it looked like a Catalina, definitely a flying boat of
some sort.
It flew past us then did a 180deg turn and headed back the way it came
which is approx in the direction of RAAF Museum Point Cook.
Nothing on the museum website but I assume it came from there?

--
Daryl

On 16/07/2021 7:06 pm, Daryl wrote:
> Was at a mates workshop in Hopetown Park Vic which is about 50km west of
> Melbourne, just heading home about 4.30pm and we heard a noise overhead,
> looked up and a large low flying aircraft was heading straight toward us.
> Not 100% sure but it looked like a Catalina, definitely a flying boat of
> some sort.
> It flew past us then did a 180deg turn and headed back the way it came
> which is approx in the direction of RAAF Museum Point Cook.
> Nothing on the museum website but I assume it came from there?
>
Was it black? If so then it was probably the HARS Catalina.

On 16/7/21 10:32 pm, keithr0 wrote:
> On 16/07/2021 7:06 pm, Daryl wrote:
>> Was at a mates workshop in Hopetown Park Vic which is about 50km west
>> of Melbourne, just heading home about 4.30pm and we heard a noise
>> overhead, looked up and a large low flying aircraft was heading
>> straight toward us.
>> Not 100% sure but it looked like a Catalina, definitely a flying boat
>> of some sort.
>> It flew past us then did a 180deg turn and headed back the way it came
>> which is approx in the direction of RAAF Museum Point Cook.
>> Nothing on the museum website but I assume it came from there?
>>
> Was it black? If so then it was probably the HARS Catalina.

No, looked like bare metal, couldn't see any markings on it.
RAAF museum mentions a Catalina but its not listed as a flying aircraft.

--
Daryl

On Saturday, 17 July 2021 at 12:32:14 pm UTC+10, Daryl wrote:
> On 16/7/21 10:32 pm, keithr0 wrote:
> > On 16/07/2021 7:06 pm, Daryl wrote:
> >> Was at a mates workshop in Hopetown Park Vic which is about 50km west
> >> of Melbourne, just heading home about 4.30pm and we heard a noise
> >> overhead, looked up and a large low flying aircraft was heading
> >> straight toward us.
> >> Not 100% sure but it looked like a Catalina, definitely a flying boat
> >> of some sort.
> >> It flew past us then did a 180deg turn and headed back the way it came
> >> which is approx in the direction of RAAF Museum Point Cook.
> >> Nothing on the museum website but I assume it came from there?
> >>
> > Was it black? If so then it was probably the HARS Catalina.
> No, looked like bare metal, couldn't see any markings on it.
> RAAF museum mentions a Catalina but its not listed as a flying aircraft.
>
> --
> Daryl

Nothing on FlightRadar24 in that area around 0600-0700Z yesterday, but I guess not a lot of historic aircraft have ADS-B at the moment.

Cheers,
Magani

On 18/7/21 10:39 am, Magani wrote:
> On Saturday, 17 July 2021 at 12:32:14 pm UTC+10, Daryl wrote:
>> On 16/7/21 10:32 pm, keithr0 wrote:
>>> On 16/07/2021 7:06 pm, Daryl wrote:
>>>> Was at a mates workshop in Hopetown Park Vic which is about 50km west
>>>> of Melbourne, just heading home about 4.30pm and we heard a noise
>>>> overhead, looked up and a large low flying aircraft was heading
>>>> straight toward us.
>>>> Not 100% sure but it looked like a Catalina, definitely a flying boat
>>>> of some sort.
>>>> It flew past us then did a 180deg turn and headed back the way it came
>>>> which is approx in the direction of RAAF Museum Point Cook.
>>>> Nothing on the museum website but I assume it came from there?
>>>>
>>> Was it black? If so then it was probably the HARS Catalina.
>> No, looked like bare metal, couldn't see any markings on it.
>> RAAF museum mentions a Catalina but its not listed as a flying aircraft.
>>
>> --
>> Daryl
>
> Nothing on FlightRadar24 in that area around 0600-0700Z yesterday, but I guess not a lot of historic aircraft have ADS-B at the moment.
>
> Cheers,
> Magani
>
It was on the 16/07/2021 at approx 16.30.

--
Daryl

Daryl wrote:
============

> >
> It was on the 16/07/2021 at approx 16.30.
>

** Maybe it was this Kiwi Catalina that flew over for a look around ?

https://www.nzcatalina.org/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PekD0S69Gj0

On 18/7/21 5:36 pm, Phil Allison wrote:
> Daryl wrote:
> ============
>
>>>
>> It was on the 16/07/2021 at approx 16.30.
>>
>
> ** Maybe it was this Kiwi Catalina that flew over for a look around ?
>
> https://www.nzcatalina.org/
>
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PekD0S69Gj0
>
>
Nice but the wrong colour, the one I saw was unpainted.

--
Daryl

On Sunday, 18 July 2021 at 10:53:26 pm UTC+10, Daryl wrote:
> On 18/7/21 5:36 pm, Phil Allison wrote:
> > Daryl wrote:
> > ============
> >
> >>>
> >> It was on the 16/07/2021 at approx 16.30.
> >>
> >
> > ** Maybe it was this Kiwi Catalina that flew over for a look around ?
> >
> > https://www.nzcatalina.org/
> >
> > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PekD0S69Gj0
> >
> >
> Nice but the wrong colour, the one I saw was unpainted.
>
> --
> Daryl

How about VH-OMS, an L65 SeaBear - twin engined, high wing amphibian? I checked FR24 for the new date and found this track Seems about the right time (16:40 local), departs YMEN, comes north from just west of Pt Cook, turns around SW of Melton, then seems to land somewhere to the north of the You Yangs.

FlightRadar24 - https://www.flightradar24.com/2021-07-16/06:33/36x/VHOMS/286c6cdb
Rego/Specs - https://www.regosearch.com/aircraft/au/OMS

HTH. Can't say I've ever come across a SeaBear. Seems to be a Russian designed homebuilt.

Cheers,
Magani.

On 19/7/21 9:54 am, Magani wrote:
> On Sunday, 18 July 2021 at 10:53:26 pm UTC+10, Daryl wrote:
>> On 18/7/21 5:36 pm, Phil Allison wrote:
>>> Daryl wrote:
>>> ============
>>>
>>>>>
>>>> It was on the 16/07/2021 at approx 16.30.
>>>>
>>>
>>> ** Maybe it was this Kiwi Catalina that flew over for a look around ?
>>>
>>> https://www.nzcatalina.org/
>>>
>>> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PekD0S69Gj0
>>>
>>>
>> Nice but the wrong colour, the one I saw was unpainted.
>>
>> --
>> Daryl
>
> How about VH-OMS, an L65 SeaBear - twin engined, high wing amphibian? I checked FR24 for the new date and found this track Seems about the right time (16:40 local), departs YMEN, comes north from just west of Pt Cook, turns around SW of Melton, then seems to land somewhere to the north of the You Yangs.
>
> FlightRadar24 - https://www.flightradar24.com/2021-07-16/06:33/36x/VHOMS/286c6cdb
> Rego/Specs - https://www.regosearch.com/aircraft/au/OMS
>
> HTH. Can't say I've ever come across a SeaBear. Seems to be a Russian designed homebuilt.
>

Awesome, thanks, that's what it was, where it did the 180deg turn was
just past my mates house, it flew directly over the top of us.
Must have landed at a private air strip, nothing shown on Google maps at
that location indicating a runway.

--
Daryl

Daryl wrote:
============
>
> > HTH. Can't say I've ever come across a SeaBear. Seems to be a Russian designed homebuilt.
> >
> Awesome, thanks, that's what it was, where it did the 180deg turn was
> just past my mates house, it flew directly over the top of us.

** The PBY Catalina is MUCH bigger than one of them - double the dimensions.
Plus has two 30 litre, 1200 hp, radial engines instead of tiny ( 1.3l ) Rotax ones.

Saw a PBY flying at the Schofields Air Show in the early 80s.

Impressive late 1930s design.

....... Phil

On 19/07/2021 4:27 pm, Daryl wrote:
> On 19/7/21 9:54 am, Magani wrote:
>> On Sunday, 18 July 2021 at 10:53:26 pm UTC+10, Daryl wrote:
>>> On 18/7/21 5:36 pm, Phil Allison wrote:
>>>> Daryl wrote:
>>>> ============
>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>> It was on the 16/07/2021 at approx 16.30.
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>> ** Maybe it was this Kiwi Catalina that flew over for a look around ?
>>>>
>>>> https://www.nzcatalina.org/
>>>>
>>>> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PekD0S69Gj0
>>>>
>>>>
>>> Nice but the wrong colour, the one I saw was unpainted.
>>>
>>> --
>>> Daryl
>>
>> How about VH-OMS, an L65 SeaBear - twin engined, high wing amphibian?
>> I checked FR24 for the new date and found this track  Seems about the
>> right time (16:40 local), departs YMEN, comes north from just west of
>> Pt Cook, turns around SW of Melton, then seems to land somewhere to
>> the north of the You Yangs.
>>
>> FlightRadar24 -
>> https://www.flightradar24.com/2021-07-16/06:33/36x/VHOMS/286c6cdb
>> Rego/Specs - https://www.regosearch.com/aircraft/au/OMS
>>
>> HTH.  Can't say I've ever come across a SeaBear. Seems to be a Russian
>> designed homebuilt.
>>
>
> Awesome, thanks, that's what it was, where it did the 180deg turn was
> just past my mates house, it flew directly over the top of us.
> Must have landed at a private air strip, nothing shown on Google maps at
> that location indicating a runway.
>
How many engines? How big was it?

On 19/7/21 7:31 pm, keithr0 wrote:
> On 19/07/2021 4:27 pm, Daryl wrote:
>> On 19/7/21 9:54 am, Magani wrote:
>>> On Sunday, 18 July 2021 at 10:53:26 pm UTC+10, Daryl wrote:
>>>> On 18/7/21 5:36 pm, Phil Allison wrote:
>>>>> Daryl wrote:
>>>>> ============
>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>> It was on the 16/07/2021 at approx 16.30.
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> ** Maybe it was this Kiwi Catalina that flew over for a look around ?
>>>>>
>>>>> https://www.nzcatalina.org/
>>>>>
>>>>> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PekD0S69Gj0
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>> Nice but the wrong colour, the one I saw was unpainted.
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> Daryl
>>>
>>> How about VH-OMS, an L65 SeaBear - twin engined, high wing amphibian?
>>> I checked FR24 for the new date and found this track  Seems about the
>>> right time (16:40 local), departs YMEN, comes north from just west of
>>> Pt Cook, turns around SW of Melton, then seems to land somewhere to
>>> the north of the You Yangs.
>>>
>>> FlightRadar24 -
>>> https://www.flightradar24.com/2021-07-16/06:33/36x/VHOMS/286c6cdb
>>> Rego/Specs - https://www.regosearch.com/aircraft/au/OMS
>>>
>>> HTH.  Can't say I've ever come across a SeaBear. Seems to be a
>>> Russian designed homebuilt.
>>>
>>
>> Awesome, thanks, that's what it was, where it did the 180deg turn was
>> just past my mates house, it flew directly over the top of us.
>> Must have landed at a private air strip, nothing shown on Google maps
>> at that location indicating a runway.
>>
> How many engines? How big was it?

It was a twin and definitely a sea plane, looked big enough but looks
are deceiving, it may have appeared bigger than what it actually was
because it was quite low, flight radar says 1550'.
What made us look at it apart from the noise was the way it was flying,
not very stable in that the wings were up and down as if the pilot was
struggling to control it in turbulence.
I can't remember seeing a Catalina in the air, seen a few on the ground
and even had a look inside the one that was parked at Essendon Airport
for a long while but that was the early 90's.

--
Daryl

On 19/07/2021 8:18 pm, Daryl wrote:
> On 19/7/21 7:31 pm, keithr0 wrote:
>> On 19/07/2021 4:27 pm, Daryl wrote:
>>> On 19/7/21 9:54 am, Magani wrote:
>>>> On Sunday, 18 July 2021 at 10:53:26 pm UTC+10, Daryl wrote:
>>>>> On 18/7/21 5:36 pm, Phil Allison wrote:
>>>>>> Daryl wrote:
>>>>>> ============
>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> It was on the 16/07/2021 at approx 16.30.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> ** Maybe it was this Kiwi Catalina that flew over for a look around ?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> https://www.nzcatalina.org/
>>>>>>
>>>>>> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PekD0S69Gj0
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>> Nice but the wrong colour, the one I saw was unpainted.
>>>>>
>>>>> --
>>>>> Daryl
>>>>
>>>> How about VH-OMS, an L65 SeaBear - twin engined, high wing
>>>> amphibian? I checked FR24 for the new date and found this track
>>>> Seems about the right time (16:40 local), departs YMEN, comes north
>>>> from just west of Pt Cook, turns around SW of Melton, then seems to
>>>> land somewhere to the north of the You Yangs.
>>>>
>>>> FlightRadar24 -
>>>> https://www.flightradar24.com/2021-07-16/06:33/36x/VHOMS/286c6cdb
>>>> Rego/Specs - https://www.regosearch.com/aircraft/au/OMS
>>>>
>>>> HTH.  Can't say I've ever come across a SeaBear. Seems to be a
>>>> Russian designed homebuilt.
>>>>
>>>
>>> Awesome, thanks, that's what it was, where it did the 180deg turn was
>>> just past my mates house, it flew directly over the top of us.
>>> Must have landed at a private air strip, nothing shown on Google maps
>>> at that location indicating a runway.
>>>
>> How many engines? How big was it?
>
> It was a twin and definitely a sea plane, looked big enough but looks
> are deceiving, it may have appeared bigger than what it actually was
> because it was quite low, flight radar says 1550'.
> What made us look at it apart from the noise was the way it was flying,
> not very stable in that the wings were up and down as if the pilot was
> struggling to control it in turbulence.
> I can't remember seeing a Catalina in the air, seen a few on the ground
> and even had a look inside the one that was parked at Essendon Airport
> for a long while but that was the early 90's.
>
You say seaplane, to me that is a plane with 2 floats, alternatively
there is a flying boat which has a boat bottomed fuselage. A Catalina is
a flying boat by my definition.

On Mon, 19 Jul 2021 00:05:22 -0700 (PDT)
Phil Allison <pallison49@gmail.com> wrote:

> Daryl wrote:
> ============
> >
> > > HTH. Can't say I've ever come across a SeaBear. Seems to be a
> > > Russian designed homebuilt.
> > Awesome, thanks, that's what it was, where it did the 180deg turn
> > was just past my mates house, it flew directly over the top of us.
> >
>
> ** The PBY Catalina is MUCH bigger than one of them - double the
> dimensions. Plus has two 30 litre, 1200 hp, radial engines instead of
> tiny ( 1.3l ) Rotax ones.
>
> Saw a PBY flying at the Schofields Air Show in the early 80s.
>
> Impressive late 1930s design.
>
>
>
> ...... Phil

Ansett still had them (if the same model) in Viet Nam war days, and one
use was to take Amelican officers on R&R to Hayman Island (also owned by
Ansett at the time?).

I was there on holidays, and the pilot kindly invited out to have
a look around, all I can seem to remember was walking on the wings.
>
>
>
>
>
>

On 19/7/21 10:05 pm, keithr0 wrote:
> On 19/07/2021 8:18 pm, Daryl wrote:
>> On 19/7/21 7:31 pm, keithr0 wrote:
>>> On 19/07/2021 4:27 pm, Daryl wrote:
>>>> On 19/7/21 9:54 am, Magani wrote:
>>>>> On Sunday, 18 July 2021 at 10:53:26 pm UTC+10, Daryl wrote:
>>>>>> On 18/7/21 5:36 pm, Phil Allison wrote:
>>>>>>> Daryl wrote:
>>>>>>> ============
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> It was on the 16/07/2021 at approx 16.30.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> ** Maybe it was this Kiwi Catalina that flew over for a look
>>>>>>> around ?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> https://www.nzcatalina.org/
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PekD0S69Gj0
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>> Nice but the wrong colour, the one I saw was unpainted.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> --
>>>>>> Daryl
>>>>>
>>>>> How about VH-OMS, an L65 SeaBear - twin engined, high wing
>>>>> amphibian? I checked FR24 for the new date and found this track
>>>>> Seems about the right time (16:40 local), departs YMEN, comes north
>>>>> from just west of Pt Cook, turns around SW of Melton, then seems to
>>>>> land somewhere to the north of the You Yangs.
>>>>>
>>>>> FlightRadar24 -
>>>>> https://www.flightradar24.com/2021-07-16/06:33/36x/VHOMS/286c6cdb
>>>>> Rego/Specs - https://www.regosearch.com/aircraft/au/OMS
>>>>>
>>>>> HTH.  Can't say I've ever come across a SeaBear. Seems to be a
>>>>> Russian designed homebuilt.
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Awesome, thanks, that's what it was, where it did the 180deg turn
>>>> was just past my mates house, it flew directly over the top of us.
>>>> Must have landed at a private air strip, nothing shown on Google
>>>> maps at that location indicating a runway.
>>>>
>>> How many engines? How big was it?
>>
>> It was a twin and definitely a sea plane, looked big enough but looks
>> are deceiving, it may have appeared bigger than what it actually was
>> because it was quite low, flight radar says 1550'.
>> What made us look at it apart from the noise was the way it was
>> flying, not very stable in that the wings were up and down as if the
>> pilot was struggling to control it in turbulence.
>> I can't remember seeing a Catalina in the air, seen a few on the
>> ground and even had a look inside the one that was parked at Essendon
>> Airport for a long while but that was the early 90's.
>>
> You say seaplane, to me that is a plane with 2 floats, alternatively
> there is a flying boat which has a boat bottomed fuselage. A Catalina is
> a flying boat by my definition.

Had a boat like bottom so flying boat.
Based on the flight radar tracking it had to be the SeaBear.

--
Daryl

On 20/7/21 9:43 am, Daryl wrote:
> On 19/7/21 10:05 pm, keithr0 wrote:
>> On 19/07/2021 8:18 pm, Daryl wrote:
>>> On 19/7/21 7:31 pm, keithr0 wrote:
>>>> On 19/07/2021 4:27 pm, Daryl wrote:
>>>>> On 19/7/21 9:54 am, Magani wrote:
>>>>>> On Sunday, 18 July 2021 at 10:53:26 pm UTC+10, Daryl wrote:
>>>>>>> On 18/7/21 5:36 pm, Phil Allison wrote:
>>>>>>>> Daryl wrote:
>>>>>>>> ============
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> It was on the 16/07/2021 at approx 16.30.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> ** Maybe it was this Kiwi Catalina that flew over for a look
>>>>>>>> around ?
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> https://www.nzcatalina.org/
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PekD0S69Gj0
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Nice but the wrong colour, the one I saw was unpainted.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> --
>>>>>>> Daryl
>>>>>>
>>>>>> How about VH-OMS, an L65 SeaBear - twin engined, high wing
>>>>>> amphibian? I checked FR24 for the new date and found this track
>>>>>> Seems about the right time (16:40 local), departs YMEN, comes
>>>>>> north from just west of Pt Cook, turns around SW of Melton, then
>>>>>> seems to land somewhere to the north of the You Yangs.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> FlightRadar24 -
>>>>>> https://www.flightradar24.com/2021-07-16/06:33/36x/VHOMS/286c6cdb
>>>>>> Rego/Specs - https://www.regosearch.com/aircraft/au/OMS
>>>>>>
>>>>>> HTH.  Can't say I've ever come across a SeaBear. Seems to be a
>>>>>> Russian designed homebuilt.
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Awesome, thanks, that's what it was, where it did the 180deg turn
>>>>> was just past my mates house, it flew directly over the top of us.
>>>>> Must have landed at a private air strip, nothing shown on Google
>>>>> maps at that location indicating a runway.
>>>>>
>>>> How many engines? How big was it?
>>>
>>> It was a twin and definitely a sea plane, looked big enough but looks
>>> are deceiving, it may have appeared bigger than what it actually was
>>> because it was quite low, flight radar says 1550'.
>>> What made us look at it apart from the noise was the way it was
>>> flying, not very stable in that the wings were up and down as if the
>>> pilot was struggling to control it in turbulence.
>>> I can't remember seeing a Catalina in the air, seen a few on the
>>> ground and even had a look inside the one that was parked at Essendon
>>> Airport for a long while but that was the early 90's.
>>>
>> You say seaplane, to me that is a plane with 2 floats, alternatively
>> there is a flying boat which has a boat bottomed fuselage. A Catalina
>> is a flying boat by my definition.
>
>
> Had a boat like bottom so flying boat.
> Based on the flight radar tracking it had to be the SeaBear.
>
Quite possible I misjudged the size because when I first saw it it was
heading straight toward me?

--
Daryl