Canadian Car and Foundry CBY-3 Loadmaster

Canadian Car and Foundry · Canada · first flew 1945 · transport aircraft

The Canadian Car and Foundry CBY-3 Loadmaster was a Canadian twin-engine flying boat and amphibian designed for bush transport operations in the immediate postwar period. Its twin-boom tail and high-mounted wing were suited to rough-water operations in Canada's remote regions.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	High-mounted, straight
E — Engines	2 × piston, wing-mounted
F — Fuselage	16.61 m fuselage
T — Tail	Twin fin

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Canadian twin-engine postwar transport flying boat
High-wing twin-boom flying boat with twin tail fins
Short hull design for rough-water amphibious operations

A high-wing twin-engine flying boat with twin-boom tail fins, a compact hull, and two radial engines; the twin-boom tail is the key distinguishing feature from single-tail contemporary flying boats.

Specifications

The Canadian Car and Foundry CBY-3 Loadmaster has a length of 16.61 m (54 ft).
It has a wingspan of 26.2 m (86 ft).
Its maximum speed is 356 km/h (221 mph).
Typical crew: 2+14 passengers.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

Developed by Canadian Car and Foundry at the end of World War II, the CBY-3 first flew in 1945 and was intended to fill Canadian commercial transport needs in areas lacking land airstrips. Despite an innovative design, commercial success was limited as surplus military transports flooded the postwar market. Only a very small number were completed.

Variants

The basic CBY-3 was the only variant; production was minimal.

Where you'll see it

Operated on a very limited basis in Canada for bush transport; did not achieve significant commercial sales.

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