[ARC5] Oddball RAX Receiver

[Christopher Bowne]

I think a lot of the model number confusion is due to how the images are identified on various internet sites..the Flickr slideshow has some images within the slides that are tagged PB5Y and some that are tagged XP5Y, which is how the plane is identified in the original captions on the images.  And there are lots of Catalina images that are tagged with titles such as PB4Y, PB5Y, etc instead of the correct PBY-4, PBY-5 etc.

Wikipedia has a page on the R3Y Tradewind, which saw limited production and was eventually taken out of service due to ongoing engine problems with the design.  Apparently the XP5Y was the prototype of the planes put in service as the R3Y.



________________________________
 From: Mike Everette <radiocompass at yahoo.com>
To: "garypewitt at centurytel.net" <garypewitt at centurytel.net>; Christopher Bowne <aj1g at sbcglobal.net> 
Cc: ARC-5 Yahoo <ARC-5radio at yahoogroups.com>; "milsurplus at mailman.qth.net" <milsurplus at mailman.qth.net>; ARC-5 List <arc5 at mailman.qth.net> 
Sent: Wednesday, August 28, 2013 9:09 PM
Subject: Re: [ARC5] Oddball RAX Receiver
 


"PB5Y Tradewind"?  Nope.  Nada.

The Convair Tradewind was the R3Y, a transport.  It was supposed to be a "flying LST" which could water-land at a beachhead, taxi right up to the beach, and raise its nose to disgorge equipment or troops.