IT wasn’t the fastest aircraft in the air this afternoon, it wasn’t the most agile, and it didn’t perform a single trick manoeuvre but, make no mistake, Felix the Black Cat was the star of this show.
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Felix, the black Catalina, is one of the few remaining flying Catalinas in the world.
Owned and operated by the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society, the black flying boat last flew at the Rathmines Catalina Festival in 2013.
At the past two festivals, Felix was grounded for maintenance.
So when the time approached 1.40pm today, festival-goers from all corners of Rathmines Park headed for the water’s edge at Catalina Bay and the best vantage points to see the headlining act.
And Felix didn’t disappoint.
On the first approach, the Catalina kept a respectable distance, as if assessing the lay of the land.
He then disappeared around the point, taking what seemed like an eternity to turn around.
But on the return route, the black cat came in low and slow, surprising first-time spectators and giving those perched on boats in the bay a close-up they’re sure to remember.
Spectators applauded, and many called for the black cat to land in the bay, or perform a ‘touch and go’. But event organisers had earlier explained to media that the ageing aircraft was no longer up to it.
Yet, in its heyday during World War II, the Catalina was a versatile and resilient craft, capable of landing on water, and covering vast distances at low altitudes.
The Catalina missions included long-range mine-laying, torpedoing, rescue, evacuation, and holding open far-distant lines of communication.
The Australian government said: “The Catalina was to Australia what the Spitfire was to Britain.”
The annual Rathmines Catalina Festival celebrates the aircraft, and the history of the Rathmines World War II RAAF Base which, by 1941, was the largest RAAF flying boat base in the southern hemisphere.
The base was home to almost 3000 personnel from 1944 to 1945. Some 332 personnel from the base lost their lives.
Before Felix’s arrival today, spectators were treated to an impressive air show featuring 15 aircraft including Tiger Moths, an Avenger, P 51 Mustang, L 39 Albatross and the AP-3C Orion.
Pilot Paul Bennet again led a spectacular aerobatics show.
