T-54 SuperCat

From: Gordon Kent
Subject: SuperCat 54

Message: Good afternoon, I came across your site today while looking for some information on an aircraft I photographed in the mid to late ’70s during a brushfire near Hemet, California. I did photography work in an area close to Hemet at the time, and I was out and around on this day and followed the smoke. I shot this PBY SuperCat 54 dropping on the fire that paralleled the road I was on. I got off a lucky shot on Kodachrome 64, and the below image is from a scan of that transparency. I found an image of this aircraft on the web several years ago, and as I recall it had been retired for several years. I did not fully explore your site, but I didn’t see this plane when I was looking around. If you think this image adds to your content, you are free to use it. I like what you are doing on your site, and this would be a great place for others to see it too.

Sincerely,
Gordon Kent

PBY SuperCat T-54
PBY SuperCat T-54 — a closer look. Photo © Gordon Kent.

THANKS A BUNCH, Gordon! We do actually have a bit more, but very much appreciate seeing yours!

https://fireaviation.com/2021/02/02/photos-of-pby-6a-air-tankers-from-the-1960s-and-1970s

The comments at the end of that story, by the way, are a DON’T MISS for PBYs! And there’s a few more Hemet snacks here:

 

 

A restored PBY

Some of us remember when Hawkins & Powers, Hemet Valley Flying Service, SLAFCO, and others operated PBY air tankers. For those feeling nostalgic about the amphibious aircraft, the video below features a Consolidated PBY-5A that was found in South Africa and painstakingly restored.

Below is an example of another PBY, used as an air tanker.

PBY-6A
PBY-6A. At various times operated by Farmers Air Service, Liston Aircraft, Hemet Valley Flying Service, Flying Fireman, Atwood Air, ICONA, and Servicious Aereos Espanoles.

UPDATE, December 4, 2014: Below is a photo I just ran across that I took around 1970-1972. It was most likely in California, and looks like Redding.

PBY air tanker
Photo by Bill Gabbert.

Thanks and a tip of the hat go out to Carl.