Westernair Consolidated PBY-5A Bird Innovator

Additional Information:

The Consolidated Model 28, more commonly known as the PBY Catalina (US Navy designation), is a flying boat and amphibious aircraft that was produced in the 1930s and 1940s. In Canadian service, it was known as the Canso. It was one of the most widely used seaplanes of World War II. The Catalina served with every branch of the United States Armed Forces and in the air forces and navies of many other nations. The last military PBYs served until the 1980s. As of 2021, 86 years after its first flight, the aircraft continues to fly as an air tanker for aerial firefighting operations in some parts of the world.

The Bird Innovator was an American four-engine executive amphibious airplane modified from a Consolidated PBY Catalina by the Bird Corporation. During the late 1960s, Forrest Bird and his Bird Corporation developed a conversion for the PBY Catalina to improve performance. In 1967, the Catalina was modified by adding two 340 hp Lycoming GSO-480-B2D6 engines positioned outboard of the original Pratt & Whitney radials to increase range and performance. The inside of the aircraft was soundproof and outfitted with a plush interior becoming a flying yacht. The conversion was called the Bird Innovator.

The Bird Corporation out of Richmond California owned the aircraft from 1966 to 1976 and the aircraft was registered as N81RD. After passing through several more owners Dick Durand of Westernair Inc, in Albuquerque New Mexico purchased the plane on October 5, 1991and owned the aircraft until late 1992. Western Air located on Albuquerque International Sunport registered the Bird Innovator as N5PY and spent the better part of a year restoring the aircraft to flying status. The plane was sold in 1992 to new owners that planned to return the aircraft to the original WWII Navy configuration. This conversion is ongoing.

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