Avid Catalina

{{Short description|American homebuilt aircraft}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2022}} {{Use American English|date=January 2022}}  {{Infobox aircraft | name = Catalina | logo = | logo_size = | image = AvidAmphibian (4446497697).jpg | alt = | caption = Avid Amphibian | long_caption = | other_names = | aircraft_type = [[Homebuilt aircraft]] | aim = | outcome = | related = | national_origin = [[United States]] | manufacturer = [[Avid Aircraft]] | design_group = | designer = | builder = | issuer = | status = Production completed (2003) | owners = | primary_user = | more_users = | service = | major_applications = | proposals = | prototypes = | number_built = 100 (Amphibian and Catalina, 2001) | construction_number = | civil_registration = | military_serial = | radio_code = | requirement = | aircraft_carried = | flights = | total_hours = | total_distance = | construction_date = | introduction = September 1994 (Catalina) | retired = | first_flight = | initiated = | in_service = | last_flight = | expected = | developed_from = | variants = | developed_into = | preservation = | fate = | predecessors = | successors = | concluded = }} The '''Avid Catalina''' is an American [[homebuilt aircraft|homebuilt]] [[amphibious aircraft]] that was designed and produced by [[Avid Aircraft]] of [[Caldwell, Idaho]].<ref name="Aerocrafter">Purdy, Don: ''AeroCrafter - Homebuilt Aircraft Sourcebook, Fifth Edition'', page 122. BAI Communications, 15 July 1998. {{ISBN|0-9636409-4-1}}</ref><ref name="KitplanesDec2001">Downey, Julia: ''2002 Kit Aircraft Directory'', Kitplanes, Volume 18, Number 12, December 2001, page 24. Kitplanes Acquisition Company. ISSN 0891-1851</ref><ref>{{cite web|url = http://aerofiles.com/_al.html|title = Avid|accessdate = 11 December 2013|last = Aerofiles|date = n.d.}}</ref> It is a development of the '''Avid Amphibian'''.<ref name="Exp">[[Experimental Aircraft Association]] (June 1992), ''EAA Experimenter'', page 21, Oshkosh, Wisconsin.</ref>

When it was available the aircraft was supplied as a kit, for amateur construction.<ref name="Aerocrafter" /><ref name="KitplanesDec2001" />

The Catalina was introduced in September 1994. Avid Aircraft ceased operations in November 2003 and Catalina production ended.<ref name="avidcommSep94">Avid Aircraft, ''Avid-Comm newsletter'', September 1994.</ref><ref name="Avweb16Nov03">{{cite web|url = http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/onthefly/186096-1.html|title = On the Fly|accessdate = 11 December 2013|last = Niles|first = Russ|authorlink = |date=November 2003}}</ref>

==Design and development== The Catalina features a [[strut-braced]] [[high-wing]], a three-seat enclosed cabin, retractable [[conventional landing gear]], a boat hull and a single engine in [[pusher configuration]].<ref name="Aerocrafter" />

The aircraft is made from mixed construction, consisting of welded steel tubing, with its flying surfaces covered in [[Aircraft dope|doped]] [[aircraft fabric]], plus [[fiberglass]] for the hull and other parts. Its {{convert|36.00|ft|m|1|abbr=on}} span wing has a wing area of {{convert|150.00|sqft|m2|abbr=on}} and folds for storage or ground transport, without disconnecting the controls. The wing is supported by "V" [[lift strut]]s with [[jury struts]].<ref name="Aerocrafter" /> The Catalina wings had the option of mid-wing sponsons, or the original Amphibian droop wing tip sponsons for water operations.<ref>Avid Aircraft, ''Catalina Builder's Manual'', revision 9/1/92 Section III A Chapter 6</ref>

The original engine used was the {{convert|64|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[Rotax 582]] twin cylinder [[two stroke]] powerplant.<ref name="Aerocrafter" /> Other known engines flown have included the [[Rotax 618]],<ref name="avidcommSep94" /> [[Rotax 912]],<ref name="FAARegN1945J">{{cite web|url = http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=1945J|title = N-Number Inquiry Results N1945J|accessdate = 26 January 2014|last = [[Federal Aviation Administration]]|date = 26 January 2014}}</ref> [[Hirth F30]],<ref name="FAARegN92KL">{{cite web|url = http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=92KL|title = N-Number Inquiry Results N92KL|accessdate = 26 January 2014|last = [[Federal Aviation Administration]]|date = 26 January 2014}}</ref> [[Hirth 2706]]<ref name="FAARegN7088N">{{cite web|url = http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=7088N|title = N-Number Inquiry Results N7088N|accessdate = 26 January 2014|last = [[Federal Aviation Administration]]|date = 26 January 2014}}</ref> and [[Verner 133M|Verner 133MK]]<ref name="FAARegN610PB">{{cite web|url = http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=610PB|title = N-Number Inquiry Results N610PB|accessdate = 27 January 2014|last = [[Federal Aviation Administration]]|date = 27 January 2014}}</ref> engines.

The Catalina has an empty weight of {{convert|600|lb|kg|abbr=on}} and a gross weight of {{convert|1200|lb|kg|abbr=on}}, giving a useful load of {{convert|600|lb|kg|abbr=on}}. With full fuel of {{convert|17.5|u.s.gal}} the payload is {{convert|495|lb|kg|abbr=on}}. While the {{convert|17.5|u.s.gal}} fuel tank is standard equipment, the factory also offered optional {{convert|31.5|u.s.gal}} and {{convert|45.5|u.s.gal}} tanks. The earlier Amphibian model offered only {{convert|17.5|u.s.gal}} standard fuel, with a total of {{convert|28|u.s.gal}} as two {{convert|14|u.s.gal}} tanks optional.<ref name="Aerocrafter" /><ref name="brochure1992">Avid Aircraft, ''Sales Brochure'', published 15 March 1992</ref>

The Avid Amphibian and Catalina could also be built without water operations capability. This variation of the aircraft was dubbed the "Landphibian", and was lighter without the inboard and outboard sponsons. In 1992 the Amphibian kit cost US$16,695, while the land-only version kit was US$15,695.<ref name="brochure1992" />

The manufacturer estimated the construction time from the supplied kit as 700 hours.<ref name="Aerocrafter" />

==Operational history== By 2001 the company reported that 100 examples of the Amphibian/Catalina were flying.<ref name="KitplanesDec2001" />

In December 2013 eleven examples were [[Aircraft registration|registered]] in the United States with the [[Federal Aviation Administration]].<ref name="FAAReg">{{cite web|url = http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/AcftRef_Results.aspx?Mfrtxt=&Modeltxt=CATALINA&PageNo=1|title = Make / Model Inquiry Results|accessdate = 11 December 2013|last = [[Federal Aviation Administration]]|date = 11 December 2013}}</ref>

One builder, Rod Snider, of [[Boise, Idaho]], wrote, "I completed the land version of the Avid Amphibian in January of 1987. Since then I have flown this remarkable little plane for 1960 hours. It is really a superb plane for sightseeing and flying slow and camping in back country airstrips. Three people of medium build can be carried comfortably, as can two people and all necessary camping gear with full fuel."<ref name="Aerocrafter" /> This aircraft was reported as destroyed in January 2004.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=94RS|title = Registration Inquiry Results - N94RS|accessdate = 22 December 2013|last = [[Federal Aviation Administration]]|date = 22 December 2013}}</ref>

==Variants== ;Amphibian :Earlier version with turned down wingtips acting as tip floats<ref name="Exp" /> ;Catalina :Later version introduced in September 1994, with conventional wing-mounted floats.<ref name="Aerocrafter" /> ;Landphibian :Version with float gear removed.<ref name="brochure1992" />

==Specifications (Catalina) == {{Aircraft specs |ref=AeroCrafter<ref name="Aerocrafter" /> |prime units?=imp  |genhide=

|crew=one |capacity=two passengers |length m= |length ft=19.40 |length in= |length note= |span m= |span ft=36 |span in=0 |span note= |height m= |height ft= |height in= |height note= |wing area sqm= |wing area sqft=150 |wing area note= |aspect ratio= |airfoil= |empty weight kg= |empty weight lb=600 |empty weight note= |gross weight kg= |gross weight lb=1200 |gross weight note= |fuel capacity={{convert|17.5|u.s.gal}} |more general=  |eng1 number=1 |eng1 name=[[Rotax 582]] |eng1 type=twin cylinder, liquid-cooled, [[two stroke]] [[aircraft engine]] |eng1 kw= |eng1 hp=65

|perfhide=

|max speed kmh= |max speed mph=90 |max speed kts= |max speed note= |cruise speed kmh= |cruise speed mph=75 |cruise speed kts= |cruise speed note= |stall speed kmh= |stall speed mph=32 |stall speed kts= |stall speed note= |never exceed speed kmh= |never exceed speed mph= |never exceed speed kts= |never exceed speed note= |range km= |range miles=364 |range nmi= |range note= |endurance= |ceiling m= |ceiling ft=12500 |ceiling note= |g limits= |roll rate= |glide ratio= |climb rate ms= |climb rate ftmin=1000 |climb rate note=while operated solo |time to altitude= |sink rate ms= |sink rate ftmin= |sink rate note= |lift to drag= |wing loading kg/m2= |wing loading lb/sqft=8.0 |wing loading note= |power/mass= |thrust/weight= |more performance= |avionics= }}

==References== {{reflist|30em}}

==External links== {{commons category|Avid Catalina}} *[http://www.flyingboats.ca/Avid-Catalina-030712-Arlington.JPG Photo of a Catalina] *[http://www.airport-data.com/images/aircraft/small/000/159/159543.jpg Photo of a Catalina] {{Avid Aircraft}}

[[Category:Avid Aircraft aircraft|Catalina]] [[Category:1980s United States sport aircraft]] [[Category:Single-engined pusher aircraft]] [[Category:High-wing aircraft]] [[Category:Homebuilt aircraft]] [[Category:Amphibious aircraft]] [[Category:Flying boats]]