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American seaplane From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Grumman HU-16 Albatross is a large, twin–radial engined amphibious seaplane that was used by the United States Air Force (USAF), the U.S. Navy (USN), the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), and the Royal Canadian Air Force primarily as a search and rescue (SAR) 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. A new build G-111T Albatross with modern avionics and engines was proposed in 2021 with production in Australia to commence in 2025.[2]
| HU-16 Albatross | |
|---|---|
| A U.S. Navy Grumman UF-1 Albatross | |
| General information | |
| Type | Air-sea rescue flying boat |
| Manufacturer | Grumman |
| Status | In limited use |
| Primary users | United States Air Force |
| Number built | 466 |
| History | |
| Manufactured | 1949–1961 |
| Introduction date | 1949 |
| First flight | October 24, 1947[1] |
| Retired | 1995 (Hellenic Navy) |
| Developed from | Grumman Mallard |
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 takeoff, or simply booster rockets) for takeoff in 8–10-foot (2.4–3.0 m) seas or greater.
Most Albatrosses were used by the U.S. Air Force (USAF), primarily in the search and rescue (SAR) mission role, 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 USAF'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.[3] Other examples of the HU-16 made their way into Air Force Reserve rescue and recovery units prior to its retirement from USAF service.
The U.S. Navy also employed the HU-16C/D Albatross as an 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 Naval Air Station 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.[4]
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.[5]
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 Pakistan Air Force operated 4 SA-16As from 1958 to 1968 which it received under the MAP program. It's No. 4 Squadron was equipped with these hydroplanes while based at Drigh Road Air Base. The SA-16s were used for maritime reconnaissance and coastal patrol during the 1965 War with India. At least one SA-16 was on patrol during the 17 day war flying 14 missions in support of the Navy. They were put in storage on 19 August 1968.[6][7]
The Indonesian Air Force operated 8 UF-1 acquired in 1958 and 4 ex-West German Navy UF-2S acquired in 1977,[8][9] all were assigned to the 5th Air Squadron and were retired in the 1980s.[10] The Indonesian Navy also operated two ex-U.S. Navy UF-2 received in 1960.[11][8] Five UF-1 of the 5th Air Squadron were deployed in the frontline airfields during the Operation Trikora in 1962. They were utilized for various roles, such as maritime patrol, search-and-rescue, weather observation, and forward air control. One of them went missing and was presumed to have crashed into the sea after entering cumulonimbus cloud during a SAR mission on 17 May 1962. Two Indonesian Navy's UF-2 were also deployed to Maluku Islands during Operation Trikora.[12] Three Grumman Albatrosses from the Indonesian Air Force took part in the 1975 invasion of East Timor for maritime patrol role. Due to shortage of ground attack aircraft in the initial stage of the invasion, the Albatross was modified so it could be armed with 12.7 mm M2 Browning machine guns, bombs and rockets. The Albatross was only used once for a ground attack mission.[13]
The Royal Canadian Air Force operated Grumman Albatrosses with the designation "CSR-110".
In the mid-1960s the U.S. Department of the Interior acquired three military Grumman HU-16s 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.
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.
Satellite technology company Row 44, now known as Anuvu, bought an HU-16B Albatross (registration N44HQ)[14] in 2008 to test its in-flight satellite broadband internet service. Named Albatross One, the company selected the 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.[15][16]
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.[17] In 2013 Reid Dennis donated N44RD to the Hiller Aviation Museum.[18]
Since the aircraft weighs over 12,500 pounds, pilots of civilian US-registered Albatross aircraft must have a type rating. A yearly Albatross fly-in is held at Boulder City, Nevada, where Albatross pilots can become type rated.
Amphibian Aerospace Industries in Darwin, Australia, acquired the type certificate and announced in December 2021 that it planned to commence manufacturing a new version of the Albatross from 2025. Dubbed the G-111T, it would have modern avionics and Pratt & Whitney PT6A-67F turboprop engines, with variants for passengers, freight, search and rescue, coastal surveillance, and aeromedical evacuation.[19][20]
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One UF-1G is operated by TP Universal Exports in Minnesota and is still flying today.
Data from Albatross: Amphibious Airborne Angel,[100] United States Navy Aircraft since 1911,[101] Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1958-59[102] Grumman Albatross: A History of the Legendary Seaplane[103]
General characteristics
Performance
Avionics
Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
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