Is it a Boat? Is it a Plane? etc.

Well it's both actually. It's been some time since we've been fortunate enough to have Miss Pick Up, a Consolidated PBY Catalina come and dwarf almost everything else at the Airshow.

The boat bit is because the aircraft was originally intended to be a very long range patrol bomber, intended to seek out and sink enemy ships. It's considerable abilities soon meant that it's role was expanded massively and it proved superb at escorting convoys, destroying submarines, shifting cargo and, most endearingly, is best known for search and rescue missions.

In that latter role and in the middle of the ocean there simply was nothing able to move at very nearly 200mph and then basically stop in the middle of the sea, pick up survivors and take them back to land at very nearly 200mph.

Post War the versatility continued. Airliner which can land on water - that's quite useful for remote island. Firebomber? Well if you can land on water you can also skim across it collecting some and then roar off to put out a fire.

Overall 4,000 were built, but not many survive and fewer still are airworthy. Miss Pick Up is the UK's only one and she can still land on water. She did so in a Scottish Loch a few years ago and you should buy the book about why she was there for a little longer than planned. She made it home to Duxford in the end and we're very lucky she did and is still in the air.