[bearoutwest]

I don't have any "new" SSP volume on the PBY, so can't comment on new-v-old book comparisons.

Having a quick look at Roscoe Creed's book on the PBY, there is a reasonable amount of Chp.3 (PBY Design & Development) on the flight and water tests of the original prototye XP3Y-1. There is additional writing in Chp.4 (Navy PBYs in the Pre-War Years) on USN service testing in the air and on the water, including a short discussion on the original beaching gear and the desirabiity of amphibious operating gear.

...geoff