David, given the recent spate of PBY series aircraft coming back on to the market for sale recently (as we have discussed both here and on WIX) along with the attendant discussion of “pre-buy” inspections, ferry flights, etc. I started wondering who are the best specialized PBY mechanics or shops in the world. Care to give anyone in particular a plug or an endorsement? Does anyone have a stand-out reputation for dealing with the type in terms of maintenance and repairs?
By the same token, I’d bet that there would be no argument that Taigh Ramey in Stockton, CA is the foremost authority on Beech 18 / C-45 / SNB (etc) series aircraft – and now maybe also in regard to Lockheed model 18 (PV-x / B-34) aircraft too since his awesome restoration of an ex-firebomber PV-2D Harpoon.
Similarly, the first name I associate with Grumman HU-16 series Albatross amphibians is Dennis Buehn of American Warbirds in Carson City, NV. I suppose he also has a comparable reputation for North American T-6 Texans too since he has been working on them and racing them at Reno for 30+ years.
So, I was just curious who you might name as the “go-to guy” in regard to PBY inspections or maintenance…
In the same vein, it seems to me that for many years, Chuck Ellsworth was the "go-to guy" for PBY flight training, but it seems to me now that every PBY restoration or even re-location / ferry project that I have heard of over the past few years has been some kind of "solo" effort by an individual owner or museum just trying to get their "new" plane back home. Am I wrong?