PBY-5A Catalina Airlift | CH-47 Chinook | Oak Harbor, Wa | PNWNAM

Описание: Filmed on IPhone 17 Pro Max



On January 21st in Oak Harbor, Washington, a rare and carefully coordinated airlift took place involving a historic PBY-5A Catalina—one of the most iconic maritime patrol aircraft of World War II. The operation required meticulous planning, specialized rigging, and precise execution to safely lift and relocate the aircraft to its new home at the Pacific Northwest Naval Air Museum.

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The PBY Catalina, known for its long-range patrols, search-and-rescue missions, and anti-submarine warfare role, is an important piece of aviation history. Decades after its service life, preserving and transporting an aircraft of this size and age presents unique challenges. Every movement during the airlift was deliberate, ensuring the structural integrity of the airframe while minimizing risk to personnel and equipment.

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For Oak Harbor, this moment carries special significance. During World War II, PBY Catalinas were once based here at the local seaplane base, operating directly from the surrounding waters as part of coastal defense and patrol missions. To see a Catalina lifted once more beside its home marina—only a short distance from where these aircraft once launched and returned—creates a powerful connection between past and present, bringing a piece of local aviation history briefly back to life.

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This video documents the airlift from the ground, capturing the scale of the operation and the contrast between historic aviation and modern heavy-lift capability. From the rigging process to the moment the aircraft was suspended and moved, the footage highlights the teamwork and precision required to preserve a piece of living history.

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Events like this offer a rare glimpse into the behind-the-scenes efforts that go into aircraft recovery and restoration, reminding us that aviation history is not only preserved in museums, but through careful, hands-on work in moments like these.