my father Homer Ragsdale was at the controls of the hawaii flight that lost the prop! he is alive and well living in Redlands california..He has a photo album with pic from a chase plane that show the approach, landing and hitting the sea wall!!!
William Gerow, e-mail, 31.10.2011 23:51
I was a bright young 2nd class AE when I was assigned to VR-2 I spent many hours in engine build up, The propellers were Counter rotating, and they were clutched so the engines could be started without props turning. When the aircraft lost the propeller enroute from Hawaii to Alameda the pilot in command elected to land in the carrier lagoon because he felt there might have been holes in the hull, what he did not know was that there was no control of #1 and when reverse was applied it caused the aircraft to make a sharp right turn into the seawall, I would agree that the T-56 would have been a good replacement, however corrosion was the main enemy of the R3Y, as it is in most seaplanes. I retired in 1978 after many years and hours in the P-3
, 17.06.2011 11:18
Could you please provide specifications in English
bombardier, e-mail, 17.05.2011 12:50
The reason for it's failure were it's engines which also doomed the A2D Skyshark and some other aircraft.The T40s were like the German DB606 extremely unreliable with a lot of problems
bombardier, e-mail, 17.05.2011 12:44
The reason for it's failure were it's engines which also doomed the A2D Skyshark and some other aircraft.The T40s were like the German DB606 extremely unreliable with a lot of problems
Don Safer, e-mail, 20.12.2010 04:39
About the "crash" near the San Mateo Bridge. If I remember right, That was a few miles north of the bridge off of San Lorenzo. I remember as a ~12 year old riding my bicycle out to the Southern Pacific tracks next to the hog farm where I could see the Tradewind stuck in the mud. It was stuck there for several days.
Charlie Coleman, e-mail, 29.11.2010 18:44
I worked for the Sperry Gyroscope Co. The R3Y had the Sperry A-12 autopilot installed. I helped calibrate the A-12 in '54 and investigated an aileron pulsing problem in '55. I was on-board on a flight to evaluate using the R3Y as a refueler. That flight was almost a disaster when the 'dishpan' on the end of the hose broke off and the hose could not be retracted and the guillotine failed. Don Germeraad told us to prepare to jump.
John Flanagan, e-mail, 23.08.2009 23:28
As an airman on temporary duty awaiting "A" School, I was assigned to the base newspaper, "The Carrier", at NAS Alameda. One day in early 1957 I was down by the seaplane ramps and observed a sight so awesome it remains with me to this day: an R3Y was heaving up out of the water like some gigantic,prehistoric sea monster, beckoned by a seemingly tiny figure which proved to be a chief petty officer. I am currently working on a book that will include the R3Y. I would like to hear from anyone who knows about the seawall collision or the crash near the San Mateo Bridge.
Paul T Cook, e-mail, 09.06.2009 19:46
In about 1962/63 I happened to have a conversation with an officer who had been at the Air Station where one or more of these R3Y's were located. I had a flight in the Caroline Mars in 1950 from Alameda to Honolulu and thought it was very special. Then the tradewind got my attention so asked this officer (name ??) what ever happened to this new R3Y? He said in the night, public works dug a big hole and buried them there where he was. I read that congress ordered them scrapped, but . . . buried!
Paul M. Kosen, e-mail, 27.02.2009 00:59
My dad was working on the Convair seaplane ramp and watched the XP5Y-1 go down, as he and his co-workers listened to the crew over the company radio. It was quite an event, with celebrations after for the 100% bail-out. I understand that the US Navy recently located the ship lying in the San Diego trench, probably too deep for recovery. I have had the honor of dining with Don Germeraad, Chief Test Pilot, who related his perspective of the incident in great detail.
William G. Kelley, e-mail, 18.04.2008 00:40
I was on the first flight crew to TransPac an R3Y-1 from Alameda, California, to Keehe Lagoon, Honolulu, October 16, 1956. I was on this crew as the electrician. Later, I qualified as 1st Flight Engineer. I was on the crew that flew several from the Convair Plant in San Diego to Alameda in 1956 after making the BAR acceptance flights. I taught part of the Ground School, Electrical and Instrument systems for Pilots, Flight Engineers and Maintenance personnel in VR-2 in Alameda, California. Captain Ned Broyles was our Commanding Officer.
Douglas C. Cox, e-mail, 08.08.2007 20:13
I was a flight test engineer in VR-2from 1944 to 1945. I would like to know more about the prop failure.Was it the gearbox or the prop itself? I read about theboat in Aviation Week back in the 1950's What a beautiful plane.I flew the run from Alameda to Cavite a few times and this plane would have been just perfect.Too bad it had such a bad ending.
James Bono, e-mail, 04.07.2007 04:07
This was a beautiful plane. Too bad the engines were junk! If only the Allison T-56 engine was available at the time. This engine would've been perfect for it. This plane would be perfect for the U.S. Coast Guard today. They definately need a longrange, high speed flying boat for search and rescue missions today, especially if the missions are beyond the range of helicopters. This aircraft will shorten the time that survivors have to wait in freezing waters of the oceans for help to arrive, instead of waiting for the nearest ships to come, as slow as they are.
Peter Hawley, e-mail, 15.01.2007 08:14
Could you please provide specifications in English (not metric)?
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