HU-16 Albatross
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The Grumman HU-16 Albatross, is a large, twin radial engine amphibious flying boat. Originally designated SA-16, it was renamed HU-16 in 1962.
Examples of Albatrosses include Jimmy Buffett's Hemisphere Dancer, now the centerpiece of the Orlando, Florida Margaritaville Cafe. Swimwear manufacturers Billabong and Quiksilver operate well-equipped Albatrosses for surf touring.
The lion's share of Albatrosses were used by the U.S. Air Force, primarily by the Air Rescue Service. The USAF utilized the SA-16 extensively in Korea, where it gained a reputation as a rugged and seaworthy craft. Later, the HU-16B (long-wing variant) Albatross was used by the U.S. Air Force's Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Service in the Vietnam conflict. The HU-16D Albatross was used for United States Navy Search And Rescue and skunk runs on Guam during the Vietnam War at NAS Agana. Goodwill flights were also common to the surrounding Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands in the early 1970s. Open water landing and takeoff training using JATO was conducted frequently at Apra Harbor, Guam. The aircraft was also operated by the United States Coast Guard for may years. The Albatross was a dependable aircraft.
There is a yearly Albatross fly-in in Boulder City, Nevada.
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[edit] Specifications (G64)
Data from {name of first source}[1]
General characteristics
- Crew: 2, pilot and co-pilot
- Capacity: up to 30 passengers
- Length: 62 ft 10 in (19.16 m)
- Wingspan: 80 ft 0 in (24.4 m)
- Height: 25 ft 10 in (7.8m)
- Wing area: 883 ft² (82 m²)
- Empty weight: 20,000 lb (kg)
- Loaded weight: lb (kg)
- Useful load: lb (kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 33,000 lb (15,000 kg)
- Powerplant: 2× Curtiss-Wright R-1820-76 , 1425 hp (1063 kW) each
Performance
- Never exceed speed: knots (mph, km/h)
- Maximum speed: knots (mph, km/h)
- Cruise speed: knots (mph, km/h)
- Stall speed: knots (mph, km/h)
- Range: nm (mi, km)
- Service ceiling: ft (m)
- Rate of climb: ft/min (m/s)
- Wing loading: lb/ft² (kg/m²)
- Power/mass: hp/lb (W/kg)
Additional lift utilizing two or four JATO 15KS1000 units 15 second solid propellant
[edit] Comparable aircraft
[edit] Military Operators
- Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Norway, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Spain, Taiwan, Thailand, United States (US Air Force, US Coast Guard, US Navy), Venezuela.
[edit] External links
- [1] HU-16 history, including other designations.
- [2] The Grumman Albatross Site
- [3] Northrop Grumman Historical Aircraft
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