User manual

Table Of Contents
Aerosoft PBY Catalina 1.00 Manual
Page 6 of 100
Models and versions
The Catalina is one of those aircraft that was done in many distinct models and dozens of versions
and hundreds of variations. A few hours after being received by a new crew it would have been
customized with new gear added and other things thrown out. This process did not stop after the
aircraft were put into non-military service; in fact it was probably more visible as gun turrets and
radar domes were removed. As with other projects we decided not to be obsessed with this and to
simulate not an existing aircraft but to merge thousands of images into five base models;
PBY-5. Pure floater model but able to be equipped with a beaching gear to drag it around on
land.
PBY-5A Period Military. This model reflects what the aircraft looked like around 1944 in it
absolute heyday. The radio room is not modeled fully as it would be too complex to ensure
fluent framerates but it will allow basic communication and navigation. On some aircraft the
flight engineer’s controls were already moved to the main cockpit and our model shows this.
PBY-5A Modern. This model is done like the many PBY-5A’s that fly around the world at this
moment. The barely functional autopilot has been replaced with an avionics set that allows
flights into a modern aviation environment. Far from a state of the art glass cockpits it does
include a serious GPS system and all communication equipment you will need.
PBY-6 Period Military. This model is internally identical to the PBY-5A Period Military but
externally it is different and allows repaints of some of the best know Catalinas.
PBY-6 Modern. This model is internally identical to the PBY-5A modern but externally it is
different and allows repaints of some of the best know Catalinas.
In total there are 11 different aircraft in the 1.00 release version, with a few more to come as
customers request models to be repainted.