Grumman HU-16 Albatross

HU-16 Albatross
Restored US Navy HU-16C BuNo 131906, built June 1953
Role Air-sea rescue flying boat
Manufacturer Grumman
First flight October 24, 1947[1]
Introduction 1949
Retired 1995 (Hellenic Navy)
Status Limited Civilian Service
Primary users United States Air Force
United States Coast Guard
United States Navy
Hellenic Navy
Produced 1949–1961
Number built 466
An USAF SA-16A during the Korean War.
U.S. Coast Guard HU-16E from CGAS Cape Cod in the 1970s.

The Grumman HU-16 Albatross is a large twin–radial engine amphibious flying boat that was used by the United States Air Force (USAF), the U.S. Navy (USN) and the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), primarily as a search and rescue aircraft. Originally designated as the SA-16 for the USAF and the JR2F-1 and UF-1 for the USN and USCG, it was redesignated as the HU-16 in 1962.

Design and development

An improvement of the design of the Grumman Mallard, the Albatross was developed to land in open ocean situations to accomplish rescues. Its deep-V hull cross-section and keel length enable it to land in the open sea. The Albatross was designed for optimal 4-foot (1.2 m) seas, and could land in more severe conditions, but required JATO (jet-assisted take off, or simply booster rockets) for takeoff in 8–10-foot (2.4–3.0 m) seas or greater.

Operational history

The majority of Albatrosses were used by the U.S. Air Force, primarily in the search and rescue mission role (SAR), and initially designated as SA-16. The USAF used the SA-16 extensively in Korea for combat rescue, where it gained a reputation as a rugged and seaworthy craft. Later, the redesignated HU-16B (long-wing variant) Albatross was used by the U.S. Air Force's Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Service and saw extensive combat service during the Vietnam War. In addition a small number of Air National Guard air commando groups were equipped with HU-16s for covert infiltration and extraction of special forces from 1956 to 1971.[2] Other examples of the HU-16 made their way into Air Force Reserve air rescue units prior to its retirement from USAF service.

The U.S. Navy also employed the HU-16C/D Albatross as a search and rescue (SAR) aircraft from coastal naval air stations, both stateside and overseas. It was also employed as an operational support aircraft worldwide and for missions from the former NAS Agana, Guam during the Vietnam War. Goodwill flights were also common to the surrounding Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands in the early 1970s. Open water landings and water takeoff training using JATO was also conducted frequently by U.S. Navy HU-16s from locations such as NAS Agana, Guam; Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; NAS Barbers Point, Hawaii; NAS North Island, California, NAS Key West, Florida; NAS Jacksonville, Florida and NAS Pensacola, Florida, among other locations.

The HU-16 was also operated by the U.S. Coast Guard as both a coastal and long-range open ocean SAR aircraft for many years until it was supplanted by the HU-25 Guardian and HC-130 Hercules.

The final USAF HU-16 flight was the delivery of AF Serial No. 51-5282 to the National Museum of the United States Air Force at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio in July 1973 after setting an altitude record of 32,883 ft earlier in the month.

The final US Navy HU-16 flight was made 13 August 1976 when an Albatross was delivered to the National Museum of Naval Aviation at NAS Pensacola, Florida.[3]

The final USCG HU-16 flight was at CGAS Cape Cod in March 1983, when the aircraft type was retired by the USCG. The Albatross continued to be used in the military service of other countries, the last being retired by the Hellenic Navy (Greece) in 1995.

The Royal Canadian Air Force operated Grumman Albatross's with the designation "CSR-110" rather than the US (post 1962) standard of "HU-16".

Civil operations

Chalk's International Airlines Albatross arriving in Miami Harbor from Nassau, Bahamas, in 1987
Cockpit of Grumman Albatross N44RD which flew around the world in 1997

In the mid-1960s the U.S. Department of the Interior acquired 3 military Grumman HU-16's from the U.S. Navy and established the Trust Territory Airlines in the Pacific to serve the islands of Micronesia. Pan American World Airways and finally Continental Airlines' Air Micronesia operated the Albatrosses serving Yap, Palau, Chuuk (Truk) and Pohnpei from Guam until 1970, when adequate island runways were built, allowing land operations.

In 1970, Conroy Aircraft marketed a remanufactured HU-16A with Rolls-Royce Dart turboprop engines as the Conroy Turbo Albatross, but only one prototype (registration N16CA) was ever built.

Many surplus Albatrosses were sold to civilian operators, mostly to private owners. These aircraft are operated under either Experimental-Exhibition or Restricted category and cannot be used for commercial operations, except under very limited conditions.

In the early 1980s Chalk's International Airlines owned by Merv Griffin's Resorts International had 13 Albatrosses converted to Standard category as G-111s. This made them eligible to be used in scheduled airline operations. These aircraft had extensive modification from the standard military configuration, including rebuilt wings with titanium wing spar caps, additional doors and modifications to existing doors and hatches, stainless steel engine oil tanks, dual engine fire extinguishing systems on each engine and propeller auto feather systems installed. The G-111s were operated for only a few years and then put in storage in Arizona. Most are still parked there, but some have been returned to regular flight operations with private operators.

Currently, satellite technology company Row 44 uses an HU-16B Albatross (registration "N44HQ")[4] to test its in-flight satellite broadband internet service. Purchased, restored and named Albatross One in 2008, the company selected this aircraft for its operations because it has the same curvature atop its fuselage as the Boeing 737 aircraft for which the company manufactures its equipment. The plane purchased by Row 44 was used at one time as a training aircraft for space shuttle astronauts by NASA. It features the autographs of the astronauts who trained aboard the plane on one of the cabin walls.[5][6]

In 1997 a Grumman Albatross (N44RD), piloted by Reid Dennis and Andy Macfie, became the first Albatross to circumnavigate the globe. The 26,347 nmi flight around the world lasted 73 days, included 38 stops in 21 countries, and was completed with 190 hours of flight time.[7] In 2013 Reid Dennis donated N44RD to the Hiller Aviation Museum.[8]

Since the aircraft weighs over 12,500 pounds, pilots of civilian US-registered Albatross aircraft must have a type rating. There is a yearly Albatross fly-in at Boulder City, Nevada where Albatross pilots can become type rated.

Variants

An XJR2F-1 prototype at NAS Patuxent River in the 1940s.
HU-16B

Operators

Mexican Grumman HU-16 Albatross
 Argentina
 Brazil
 Canada
 Chile
 Republic of China
 Germany
 Greece
 Iceland
 Indonesia
 Italy
 Japan
 Malaysia
 Mexico
 Norway
 Pakistan
 Peru
 Philippines
HU-16B of the 135th ACS, Maryland Air National Guard, during the 1960s.
 Portugal
 Spain
 Thailand
 United States

Aircraft on display

Preserved Hellenic AF aircraft at Dekelia AB.
Note
many of this type are still in active use.
HU-16A
HU-16C
HU-16E
SA-16B

Accidents and incidents

Specifications (HU-16B)

Data from Albatross: Amphibious Airborne Angel [44]

General characteristics

Performance

Armament

Notable appearances in media

Featured in the motion pictures Flight from Ashiya, The Expendables and In Harm's Way.

See also

Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

References

  1. Pigott, Peter (2001). Wings across Canada: an illustrated history of Canadian aviation. Dundurn Press. p. 121. ISBN 1-55002-412-4.
  2. Minami, Wayde. "Albatross Was a Maryland Air Guard Classic". 175th Wing, Air National Guard.
  3. Grossnick, Roy A. "Part 10: The Seventies 1970–1980" (PDF). United States Naval Aviation 1910–1995 (PDF). Washington, D.C.: Naval Historical Center Department of the Navy. pp. 279–330.
  4. "FAA Aircraft Registry N44HQ". Federal Aviation Administration. Retrieved 4 December 2011.
  5. "Albatross One". row44.com. Retrieved 4 December 2011.
  6. "Speedy In-Flight Wi-Fi, Even During a Wild Ride". The New York Times. 17 October 2011. Retrieved 4 December 2011.
  7. Foreman, Herb (March 11, 2013). "Record Holding Albatross Retires to Hiller Aviation Museum". In Flight USA. Retrieved 27 August 2014.
  8. Murtagh, Heather (April 29, 2013). "Hiller gets amphibious contribution". San Mateo Daily News. Retrieved 27 August 2014.
  9. Wolfe, Ray. "Albatross Current Status List". Grumman Albatross Research.
  10. aeroflight
  11. "HU-16 Albatross/51-0006". Strategic Air and Space Museum. Retrieved 9 September 2012.
  12. "HU-16 Albatross/51-0022". Pima Air and Space Museum. Retrieved 9 September 2012.
  13. "HU-16 Albatross/51-5282". National Museum of the US Air Force. Retrieved 29 August 2015.
  14. "HU-16 Albatross/51-7144". Museum of Aviation. Retrieved 9 September 2012.
  15. "HU-16 Albatross/51-7163". Castle Air Museum. Retrieved 9 September 2012.
  16. "HU-16 Albatross/51-7176". Pier System. Retrieved 9 September 2012.
  17. "HU-16 Albatross/51-7193". Aero Web. Retrieved 9 September 2012.
  18. "HU-16 Albatross/51-7195". Yanks Air Museum. Retrieved 9 September 2012.
  19. "HU-16 Albatross/51-7200". Octave Chanute Aerospace Museum. Retrieved 9 September 2012.
  20. "HU-16 Albatross/137928". Buffett World. Retrieved 9 September 2012.
  21. Highton, Scott. "Virtual Reality Tour Grumman Albatross HU-16C". Hiller Aviation Museum. Retrieved 27 August 2014.
  22. "HU-16 Albatross/51-7209". Aerospace Museum of California. Retrieved 20 September 2012.
  23. "HU-16 Albatross/51-7216". Aero Web. Retrieved 9 September 2012.
  24. "HU-16 Albatross/51-7228". New England Aviation Museum. Retrieved 9 September 2012.
  25. "HU-16 Albatross/51-7236". National Museum of Naval Aviation. Retrieved 9 September 2012.
  26. "HU-16 Albatross/51-7245". Pacific Coast Air Museum. Retrieved 9 September 2012.
  27. "HU-16 Albatross/51-7247". Warbirds Resource Group. Retrieved 9 September 2012.
  28. "HU-16 Albatross/51-7250". HU-16 Museums. Retrieved 9 September 2012.
  29. "HU-16 Albatross/51-7251". Aero Web. Retrieved 9 September 2012.
  30. "HU-16 Albatross/51-7254". Jimmy Doolittle Museum. 9 September 2012.
  31. "HU-16 Albatross/1280". Aero Web. Retrieved 9 September 2012.
  32. "HU-16 Albatross/1293". March Field Air Museum. Retrieved 9 September 2012.
  33. "HU-16 Albatross/2129". USS Alabama Museum. Archived from the original on 4 September 2012. Retrieved 9 September 2012.
  34. "Aircraft on Display". National Naval Aviation Museum.
  35. Esteban Brea (2012-03-13). "Museo Nacional de Aeronáutica: Más de medio siglo de preservación" [National Aeronautics Museum: More than half a century of preservation] (in Spanish). Gaceta Aeronautica. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
  36. "1951 USAF Serial Numbers". Joebaugher.com. Retrieved 25 November 2010.
  37. "Albatross Plane Crash Site". Death-Valley.net. Retrieved 25 November 2010.
  38. Schlight, John (1988). The War in South Vietnam: The Years of the Offensive, 1965-1968 (The United States Air Force in Southeast Asia). Washington, D.C.: Office of Air Force History, United States Air Force. p. 52. ISBN 0-912799-51-X.
  39. "Migs [sic] Shoot Down Unarmed Chinese Plane". Playground Daily News. 19 (342). Fort Walton Beach, FL. United Press International. 10 January 1966. p. 2.
  40. Barnette, Michael (2008). Florida's Shipwrecks. Images of America. Charleston, SC: Arcadia Publishing. p. 122. ISBN 978-0-7385-5413-6.
  41. "Coast Guard Plane Feared Lost in Gulf". Star-News. Pasadena, CA. United Press International. 6 March 1967.
  42. Freeze, Ken (7 August 1967). "Mt. Mars USCG HU-16E Crash". Jacksjoint.com.
  43. "Accident description". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 7 November 2009.
  44. Dorr, Robert F. (October 1991). "Albatross: Amphibious Airborne Angel". Air International. 41 (4): 193–201. ISSN 0306-5634.
  45. Swanborough, Gordon; Bowers, Peter M. (1976). United States Navy Aircraft since 1911 (Second ed.). Putnam: London. p. 230. ISBN 0-370-10054-9.

Further reading

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