THE Catalina that had been scheduled to make some low and slow fly pasts at the Rathmines Catalina Festival on Sunday experienced engine trouble and was instead forced to land at Maitland Airport.
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The 72-year-old aircraft known as Felix the Black Cat, Australia's only operational Catalina, was on route to Rathmines from Albion Park when the pilot encountered a problem with one of the engines.
“The pilot had a warning to preserve the engine, so he shut it down,” a spokesperson for Rathmines Catalina Memorial Park Association, told the Lakes Mail on Monday.
The pilot then rotated the engine 90 degrees to minimise drag. This is a process known as feathering, the spokesperson said.
The pilot then sought to land the flying boat at the nearest suitable airport, which was Maitland Airport, at Rutherford, he said.
“The important thing is that we got a safe outcome,” the spokesperson said.
The festival was nevertheless hailed by organisers as a great success. It attracted thousands of spectators to Rathmines Park, and more lined the shores of Lake Macquarie to watch the aerial action.
