Design and Development
During the late 1960s Dr Forrest Bird and his Bird Corporation developed a conversion for the PBY Catalina to improve performance. To get the maximum range and performance, the aircraft was modified with an extra two 340 hp (254 kW) Avco Lycoming GSO-480-B2D6 engines positioned outboard of the original Pratt & Whitney radials. Also, the wing was strengthened, fin and rudder area increased, and greater fuel capacity installed. The engineer's controls were moved to allow single-pilot operation. The effect of the extra engines exceeded expectations, such that it was capable of a cruising speed of 152 mph (244 km/h) on four engines, and of maintaining 124 mph with one of the main engines feathered.
Read more about this topic: Bird Innovator
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