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PBY-5A Catalina - United States Navy - 1:1

The PBY-5A Catalina, also known as the "Pigboat", is a U.S. amphibious aircraft used during World War 2. It is a variant of the equally popular PBY-5, which did not have landing gear. Manufactured by the company Consolidated Aircraft, the PBY was designed for service as a patrol bomber by the U.S. Navy, and had gained such a reputation from it's versatility and reliability that it eventually served equally in the ranks of Great Britain, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, the Soviet Union, and even the Netherlands.

During a period of tensions in the mid to late 1930s, the United States worried that a potential conflict with the Empire of Japan was coming to reality. The Navy in particular believed that, in order to stand guard over the massive Pacific Ocean, the States needed a patrol bomber that was capable of taking off from remote islands without the need of an airfield. As such, Consolidated began work on a hydroplane to fill this role. By 1940, the PBY-5 was in active service within the U.S. Navy, and proved to be an extremely potential aircraft.

After the attack on Pearl Harbor, it was time for the cat to show it's claws. the Catalina became the first U.S. Aircraft to gain an Air to Air kill in the war, shooting down an A6M2 Zero in defense during a Japanese raid in the Philippines.

For the rest of the war, the Catalina would show itself to be an extremely useful plane. It is responsible for killing 25 axis submarines, out of a total 60 that were sank by the Navy. Catalinas were used mostly for patrol bombing and raiding Japanese ships, but also found a unique role as a search and rescue plane that saved the lives of hundreds of U.S. sailors and airmen. Among it's common service record, the Catalina is also noted to have served in the first U.S. engagement with the Japanese, and was the first plane to spot the Bismarck off the coast of Brest, leading to the subsequent destruction of the ship. Later in the war, some U.S. Navy Catalinas were purposed for night fighting, with some even gaining early Radar. These planes, nicknamed "Black Cats" gained mythical reputation, with some Japanese sources even believing that the U.S. had invented a sort of super plane that was unmatched in the air.

After the war's end, the Catalina continues to serve to this day in very few world militaries, but is primarily renowned for it's civilian service. PBY-5A is used commonly for cargo transport, mail services, and passenger flights in areas with large amounts of water. She still provides exceptional service as a search and rescue plane and aerial firefighter, with some planes being modified with modern engines and equipment for improved and prolonged service.

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This build is a 1:1 scale model, capable of amphibious landings on both land and sea. To take off from water, deploy wing floats and raise landing gear. Raise propeller pitch to maximum on low-to-no throttle. Toggle aquatic takeoff mode (by pressing the button or hotkey 1, which can be quite finicky) and begin to raise throttle while constantly raising the elevators. stay level and keep the wing floats from touching the water, Be careful not to nose dive! the aircraft's aquatic takeoff capabilities can change depending on bomb load and weather.

To change direction while taking off from the water, touch one of the wing floats into the water to drag one side in the direction you want to turn.

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This build has many features that are true to the real-life aircraft:

- Functional radio
- 2x light autocannon blister guns
- Good bomb load capabilities (of course, unguided)
- High visibility from cockpit, waist blisters and mechanic's compartment
- Semi-full interior (tail gunner and nose gunner positions were traded for logic)
- Fully amphibious capabilities
- Simple controls and easy controllability

With respect for the versatility of this aircraft, feel entirely free to modify this aircraft with your own bomb loads or technology. Please don't re-post without original credit!

--- POST UPDATE ACKNOWLEDGMENT ---

Flying solo without a stabilizer got annoying lol, regardless of accuracy. So I added one, aswell as an altitude hold. It's a little jank but it works well.

Don't use the stabilizer during takeoff or landing, as it restricts the elevators too much.

Thank you to my friend Blake for making the 2x Mk13 torpedoes used on this build.