© Castle Air Museum Foundation, Inc. Optimized for a screen resolution of 1024x768, using IE6+
5050 Santa Fe Drive • Atwater, California • 95301
Grumman HU-16B Albatross
MUSEUM HOURS
May 1- October 31
9:00am - 5:00pm
November 1 - April 30
10:00am - 4:00pm
The museum is open
daily year round,
except for the
following days:
New Year's Day,
Easter,
Thanksgiving and
Christmas Day.
The Albatross was first produced for the. U. S. Navy in late 1947 as the UF-1. A modified version appeared in 1955 as the UF-2. The USAF acquired 305 of them with the majority serving with the Air Rescue Service of MATS under the designation SA-16A with the UF-2 version designated SA-16B. It replaced the PBY-5A Catalina amphibian for air-sea rescue work.
An improvement of the design of the Grumman Mallard, the Albatross was developed to land in open ocean situations to rescue downed pilots. Its deep-V cross-section and substantial length enable it to land in the open sea. The Albatross was designed for optimal 4 ft seas, and could land in more severe conditions, but required JATO for takeoff in 8-10 ft seas or greater.
Since the aircraft weighs over 12,500 pounds, pilots of 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.
The Grumman Albatross replaced the RCAF's Canso Aircraft in 1960. The Albatross proved to be just as rugged and adaptable as the old Canso but served for less than a decade. Most ex-RCAF Albatrosses are still flying in foreign lands. Albatross 9307, seen here, was delivered in November 1960 and served with 103rd Rescue Unit until it was sold back to Grumman in 1971.
9307 was one of ten G-111 Grumman SA-16B CSR-110 Albatross (or Albert) Search and Rescue Aircraft flown by the RCAF from November, 1960. 103rd Rescue Unit in Greenwood, Nova Scotia received 07 as its first triphibious SAR Aircraft to replace the aging Canso and six months later on 24 May,1962 set an unofficial Canadian endurance record for the Albert using 07 to fly non-stop from Comox, B.C. to Greenwood, Nova Scotia in 16 hours and 32 minutes in order that the crew would be able to be home for the long weekend. Along with the eight other remaining Aircraft of the fleet (02 crashed on 23 April, 1966), 07 was struck off strength on 17 December, 1970 and all were returned to Grumman and subsequently sold to Chile, Mexico, and/or Malaysia. In over a decade of flying, the fleet had accumulated between 5946 and 7498 hours per airframe.
With the uniform designation of all U.S. military aircraft in 1962, the SA-16s became HU-16A and B. The type also was used by the U.S. Coast Guard. It could be equipped with JATO bottles for takeoff assistance. A few Navy Albatrosses were equipped with skis for Antarctic service It has provisions for a crew of four plus 10 passengers or stretchers or cargo. Most were phased out of service in the 1970s; some are still in use by foreign navies. A few saw service with commercial operators but its powerful, fuel hungry engines made it unattractive to most.
On the web at: http://www.hu-16.com/
Specifications
Country of Origin: United States
Manufacturer: Grumman Aircraft Co.
Role/Function: Search and Rescue Amphibian
Serial Number: 51-7163
Model Number/Mk. #: G-64
Crew: 4 + 10 passengers or stretchers or cargo.
Power Plant: 2 - 1,425 hp Wright R1820-76.
Maximum Speed: 236 mph.
Cruising Speed: 124 mph.
Service Ceiling: 21,500 ft.
Range: 2,850 mi.
Weights: Empty: 22,883 lbs. Maximum: 35,700 lbs.
Wing Span: 96 ft. 8 in. (HU-16B is modified with a longer wing than other variants).
Length: 61 ft. 3 in.
Height: 26 ft. 10 in.
Wing Area: 1035 ft² (96.2 m²)
Armament: None.
Cost: n/a
# Built: 464 + 2 Prototypes.
# in Current Service: Retired. Most are active in civillian ownership.