A World War II-era Catalina grounded at Maitland Aerodrome is set to return to the skies on Saturday after a successful test of a new engine on Thursday.
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The Catalina, called Felix the Cat due to its distinctive paint job, has been stranded at Maitland since an engine malfunction occurred while on its way to the Rathmines Catalina Festival in October.
A new engine arrived in Maitland earlier this week, but fitting it has been a slow process.
Soaring temperatures forced the team of experienced mechanics off the tarmac on Tuesday, while piecing together the engine of the 75-year-old aircraft hasn’t been straight forward.
“You can’t run down to the shops to buy a new one,” Rathmines Catalina Association president Bill Anderson explained.
“It all depends on the experience of the blokes who are putting it on.”
The crew are confident of getting the big beast up in the air on Saturday, with a view to flying it straight back to its home in the Illawarra.
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