Good progress has been made with the Catalina since our last report.

At the Springbok Aviation Services Maintenance facility we have progressed to the point where we are ready for painting. In fact the empennage is ready for final painting and the rest of the fuselage still needs a primer.

Empennage – Ready for final painting

As previously reported very little corrosion was detected on the fuselage. The most however was surface corrosion and mainly on the aft section of the aircraft. All of the corrosion repairs on the fuselage have been complete including the strap at the forward right and wing strut.

Strut Strap  -  corrosion repair

Corrosion repair on the nose

The entire cockpit area, forward of the cockpit bulkhead had been stripped out and is being restored to new. All the instruments are being overhauled and repainted. The work on the cockpit should be completed by the end of January.

Two engines are being overhauled, one in the USA and one in South Africa. Both should be available by March 2007, which should be when the rest of the aircraft will be ready.

Work has slowed down considerably during the festive season but will speed up again from early January 2007.

We will keep you posted.