Derek Head
Please introduce yourself to us, and tell us how did you become involved with the aviation industry and flying, and at what age?
Hello, my name is Derek Head and I’m the Deputy Chief Pilot and Deputy Chief Instructor of Plane Sailing Air Displays based at Duxford in England. We operate the only currently airworthy Catalina in Europe.
I cannot remember a time in my life when I was not fascinated by aeroplanes. This led to my joining the Air Cadet Organisation in the UK and having my first glider flight at the age of 13. This further led to a gliding scholarship at the age of 16 and going solo just after my 17th birthday. 18 months later I was lucky enough to be selected by the Royal Air Force for pilot training and started a career of nearly 20 years mostly flying the C-130 Hercules after over 2 years of training.
In 1990 I left the Air Force and started my second career in commercial aviation. This led to time as a co-pilot, captain, instructor and examiner on short-haul aircraft before retiring in 2016.
What got you interested in flying warbirds and how did you end up flying what is now the last airworthy Catalina in Europe?
I have always been interested in older aircraft types in the same way that some people are attracted by old cars. In the past I’ve owned several vintage gliders and when I saw an advert in an aviation magazine for people to become involved in owning and operating a Catalina I jumped at the chance.
Could you tell us a little bit about the aircraft you fly? It’s history? The name 'Miss Pick-up'?
I will give you a little of the history of our aircraft and its name here but if you wish to see the full story I would recommend you see our website at “www.catalina.org.uk”.
Our aircraft is a Canadian build aircraft called a Canso Catalina. It was built in 1943 and saw war service with the Royal Canadian Air Force. Like many Catalinas, after World War 2 it saw service as a survey aircraft and water bomber before the start of conversion to a passenger aircraft for African safari trips. This conversion in Canada did not finish and the aircraft spent nearly 5 years awaiting a new owner. We bought the aircraft in 2002 and spent nearly 18 months restoring it to flying condition before a one month Atlantic ferry trip arriving at our Duxford base in March 2004.
The name “Miss Pickup” is part of the history of another Catalina operated by The US Army Air Force based near Duxford late in WW2. This aircraft was sunk off the Dutch coast on March 31st 1945 by two ME262 jet fighters. It had landed to pick up a Mustang pilot but suffered an engine failure after landing and could not take off again. The crew were rescued unhurt after several days in dinghies.
We adopted the colour scheme and tail number of this Catalina due to its simplicity and to recognise the magnificent work done by air/sea rescue aircraft of this type in WW2
What’s the Catalina like to fly/display?
Development of the Catalina or “PBY” as it was known in the USA started in the very early 1930s. The requirements were for a long-range and to be a stable observation platform. The result of this was a long wingspan of 104 feet or 31.7 metres above a fuselage attached by a pylon.
Powered flying controls came later so everything is manually operated in an aircraft with the same wingspan as a B737-300. For normal route flying the controls are all moderately heavy with the rudder being the lightest. You guide the aircraft rather than fly it.
Display flying the Catalina is a very physical exercise if you wish to remain anywhere near the Display line. The aircraft is very manoeuvrable but requires large control inputs and accepting large out of trim elevator forces to achieve this.
At what airshows can we see Catalina perform in 2022?
This year’s display season is filling up fairly rapidly. Due to our long range, we can easily go anywhere from North Norway to Southern Spain. We have three shows already in France, two in the Paris area and also at Biscarosse. A lot of the organisations have not yet decided on the aeroplanes for their shows. If you look at our website mentioned above it will have the latest update on when and where we are displaying.
Any airshow this year you’re looking forward to the most?
Our favourite show this year and most years is the Rassemblement International D’Hydravions (International Seaplane Gathering) at Biscarosse. The Catalina was originally a pure flying boat and it is the element in which she feels the most comfortable.
When do you start your training and how often do you practice before the airshow season?
The Catalina comes out of the hangar after winter maintenance normally in early April. Pilot currency training and check rides start soon after and the display pilots review and practice their display routines. In the UK we have a formal display pilot authorisation scheme and pilots have to do an absolute minimum of three full practice displays before flying at an airshow. There is also an annual assessment by an examiner which has to be passed before a display authorisation is renewed.
If one day you could choose any airshow in Europe to display at, which one would it be and why?
It is difficult to specify one particular Airshow that is the best or most enjoyable to fly at as all have their different qualities and challenges. For us, any water display is enjoyable as it shows the unique qualities of our aircraft. I would like to see a return of the Scalaria Air Challenge on the Wolfgangsee in Austria as that was a spectacular venue.
What does flying mean to you? If you hadn’t become a pilot, what other profession or passion in life would you have pursued?
As a young person flying meant just about everything to me. Now being older it still means a great deal and is a large part of my retired life. However, as a young man, I did have to consider the possibilities of not making the grade as a pilot. I am certain that I would have had a career directly connected to the sea.
How many people does it take to get Catalina up in the air?
A lot of behind the scenes work goes on keeping the Catalina in the air. In the winter many man-hours are put in by over twenty volunteer workers assisting our engineer in carrying out the large amount of winter maintenance needed by an aircraft of the Catalina’s age. During the display season, the Catalina usually operates with a crew of six including the two pilots. Under certain circumstances this can be reduced to a minimum of three but if at all possible we carry three volunteers to enjoy the result of their hard work.
What is your most memorable flight experience?
With the Catalina, my most memorable flight experience was taking off from a gravel airstrip In Southern Greenland and flying up fjord like inlets covered by pack ice with spectacular waterfalls. Initially, the weather was grey and cloudy with light rain but as we started climbing up narrow valleys with glaciers to the side we finally burst out into brilliant sunshine and landed on a glacial lake.
What types of planes or helicopters have you flown and what experience do you value the most?
I have not looked at my logbooks recently but I know I have flown between 40 and 50 types of aircraft and helicopters ranging from 1930’s vintage primary gliders to a B52. My most valuable experience was several hours with a very good friend in a De Havilland Mosquito.
What advice would you have for someone who after watching your display wants to learn to fly?
My advice to anyone wishing to take up flying having watched a display is simply ‘live the dream’. I would strongly recommend starting with gliding as it is to my mind still the purest form of flying. It is also both an individual and team sport as it takes a group of people to get one person airborne. From there you have the building blocks to pursue any path in aviation.
Thank you very much for your time! Any final words to our readers?
You are very welcome. I think I have probably said enough!
