The Catalina Society

Winter maintenance work continues in the Duxford hangar with the 'Cat Pack' volunteers keeping busy under the supervision of Chief Engineer Garry Short and engineer Chris Hodson. The first three photos by Karen Scott show Roger Jackson and Peter Williamson refitting spark plugs to the Pratt & Whitneys and the rear seats and emergency exit hatch back in place after maintenance and cleaning. The next photo by Christopher Murison shows the starboard blister transparency in the open position, not something seen very often. The final photo by Lee Wyatt shows the rear hull floor being cleaned, an essential if not very glamorous task!

Our Duxford host, the Imperial War Museum, has for some time been running a project to update and standardise the design and content of the various information display boards around the site. Our Catalina board was recently completed and is now located close to the aircraft in our hangar. Photos by Jeff Boyling.

Shareholder pilot Jeff Boyling and I (David Legg) are currently in Athens representing the Catalina operation at the annual European Airshow Council Convention. Lots of airshow organisers, regulators and a few operators from all over Europe are present. Jeff pictured with our stand.

Winter maintenance on Catalina 'Miss Pick Up' continues in our hangar at the Imperial War Musuem, Duxford. Here is a selection of photos taken over the last few weeks as volunteers from our 'Cat Pack' group carry out various tasks. Photos by Eduardo Zaine (2), Lee Wyatt, William Thomas (2), Richard Day and Karen Scott.

Lots going on inside our hangar at the Imperial War Musuem airfield, Duxford as members of our volunteer 'Cat Pack' team work on winter maintenance. In Richie Piper's photo taken today, it can be seen that the forward, port side wing strut has been removed for structural testing and so jacks are in place to support the weight of the wing and engine on that side.

There is plenty going on behind the scenes at Duxford now that 'Miss Pick Up' has returned to her hangar. It's all systems go to get her back in the air in April ready for this year's show season which is shaping up nicely - more on that in due course. There are no major projects planned for this winter but there are myriad tasks to accomplish so the crew are working hard on these. First two photos by Karen Scott show work underway on the main gear brakes with new volunteers Mick and Chris under the watchful eyes of Chief Engineer Garry Short (right) and, in close-up, long-term volunteer Roger Jackson. The other photos by Richard Day show various jobs underway - note the old yellow paint left over from our Catalina's waterbombing days with the Province of Saskatchewan!

So, reporting a little late in the day but, as planned, 'Miss Pick Up' finally made it into the warmth of her hangar at Duxford today. The Duxford H2 Hangar Project is not complete yet but has advanced sufficiently for the Catalina to take up her place indoors. Our engineer Chris Hodson on the tractor, and a team of 'Cat Pack' volunteers, ensured that, with the wingtip floats partially lowered and a wingspan less than the normal 104ft, the Cat was efficiently backed inside between the fully opened hangar doors. Winter maintenance will commence in earnest after the Christmas break. Photos by David Whitworth (first), Chris Hodson (second) and Jeff Boyling (other two).

As Christmas rapidly approaches, it is time to wish all our subscribing Catalina Society members and our Facebook visitors a very happy and peaceful Christmas and New Year. 'Miss Pick Up' will be going back into her hangar at Duxford on Tuesday 23rd December and I hope to bring you photos then. Meanwhile, when she was still in the hangar last spring awaiting her refurbished engine, we welcomed many visitors, one of the youngest being Owen, a very enthusiastic 'Society member. He was treated to a tour of the Catalina by our engineer Chris Hodson - photo below. Meanwhile, yesterday, we said a temporary goodbye and bon voyage to the engine we had a problem with earlier in the year in France as it began its long journey to our favoured engine shop, Anderson Aeromotive of Grangeville, Idaho. Here it is in the truck as it departs Duxford on the first stage of the long journey - photo by Chief Engineer Garry Short.

The season that keeps on giving! Usually, 'Miss Pick Up' disappears into our hangar at the Imperial War Museum airfield at Duxford during October so that winter maintenance can commence. But this year has set something of a record! Because of construction work going in within the hangar, the Catalina has not yet been able to go indoors. So what do we do? - we fly her! On Sunday she flew what will be her last 2025 flight when she carried out a Type Rating renewal for one of our shareholder pilots. She is due to go into the warm on December 23rd. The accompanying photos were taken by David Whitworth, resident photographer at Duxford, and give us an opportunity to thank him for his superb work throughout the year. Thanks too to Miss Pick Up's shareholders, pilots, volunteer 'Cat Pack' crew, our small number of staff, Catalina Society members and our Facebook fans for enthusiastically supporting her this year.

This is the time of year when we start to negotiate airshow bookings for the coming season. We have already agreed some but are unable to share news of them until the organisers publish details on their own 'socials'. However, one show which we can go public on is the Midlands Air Festival to be held at Ragley Hall in Warwickshire in May 2026. We are delighted to be making a return visit. Details may be found at the show's website

Midlands Air Festival | 29-31 May 2026 This spectacular aviation event will once again consist of Nightfire, Weekend Air Displays and Hot Air Balloon Launches!

Latest World Catalina News - November 2025 Now Online!

World Catalina News - November 2025 - The Catalina Society This article is taken from the print version of The Catalina News magazine, Issue No 104, Autumn/Winter 2025 received by subscribing members of The Catalina Society. If you are not a member, why not support...

The latest edition of 'The Catalina News' has just been despatched to subscribing members of The Catalina Society, full of news and views on Catalinas past and present, military and commercial. Joining The Catalina Society is a great way of supporting the continued operation of the airworthy Catalina 'Miss Pick Up' - see the 'memberships' tab at www.catalina.org.uk for more information - so if you like what byou see on these pages, you'll like our magazine and enjoy membership!