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==Accidents and incidents==
==Accidents and incidents==
*On 24 January 1952, [[SA-16 Albatross|SA-16A Albatross]], ''51-001'', c/n G-74,<ref>[http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1951.html 1951 USAF Serial Numbers]. Joebaugher.com. Retrieved on 2010-11-25.</ref> of the [[580th Air Resupply and Communications Wing|580th Air Resupply Squadron]] (described as a [[Central Intelligence Agency]] air unit), on cross-country flight from [[Mountain Home AFB]], Idaho, to [[San Diego]], California, suffers failure of port engine over [[Death Valley]], crew of six successfully bails out at ~1830 hrs. with no injuries, walks S some 14 miles to [[Furnace Creek, California]] where they are picked up the following day by an SA-16 from the 42d Air Rescue Squadron, [[March AFB]], California. The abandoned SA-16 crashes into Towne Summit mountain ridge of the [[Panamint Range]] W of [[Stovepipe Wells]] with starboard engine still running. Wreckage is still there.<ref>[http://www.death-valley.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=21016&sid=2fd78e5c173f4e09fb5ceb51934e2cf1 View topic - Albatross Plane Crash Site]. Death-Valley.net. Retrieved on 2010-11-25.</ref>
*On 24 January 1952, [[SA-16 Albatross|SA-16A Albatross]], ''51-001'', c/n G-74,<ref>[http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1951.html 1951 USAF Serial Numbers]. Joebaugher.com. Retrieved on 2010-11-25.</ref> of the [[580th Air Resupply and Communications Wing|580th Air Resupply Squadron]] (described as a [[Central Intelligence Agency]] air unit), on cross-country flight from [[Mountain Home AFB]], Idaho, to [[San Diego]], California, suffers failure of port engine over [[Death Valley]], crew of six successfully bails out at ~1830 hrs. with no injuries, walks S some 14 miles to [[Furnace Creek, California]] where they are picked up the following day by an SA-16 from the 42d Air Rescue Squadron, [[March AFB]], California. The abandoned SA-16 crashes into Towne Summit mountain ridge of the [[Panamint Range]] W of [[Stovepipe Wells]] with starboard engine still running. Wreckage is still there.<ref>[http://www.death-valley.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=21016&sid=2fd78e5c173f4e09fb5ceb51934e2cf1 View topic - Albatross Plane Crash Site]. Death-Valley.net. Retrieved on 2010-11-25.</ref>
*On 9 January 1966, A [[Republic of China]] HU-16 carrying three Red Chinese naval defectors was shot down by Communist MiGs over the [[Straits of Formosa]], just hours after they had surrendered their landing ship and asked for asylum. The Albatross was attacked just 15 minutes after departing the island of [[Matsu]] on a 135 mile flight to [[Taipei]]. According to a U.S. Defense Department announcement, the attack was a swift - and perhaps unintentional - retribution for the Communist sailors who killed seven fellow crew members during their pre-dawn escape to freedom. <ref>United Press International, "''Migs [sic] Shoot Down Unarmed Chinese Plane''", Playground Daily News, Fort Walton Beach, Florida, Monday, 10 January 1966, Volume 19, Number 342, page 2.</ref>
*On 9 January 1966, A [[Republic of China]] HU-16 carrying three Red Chinese naval defectors was shot down by Communist MiGs over the [[Straits of Formosa]], just hours after they had surrendered their landing ship and asked for asylum. The Albatross was attacked just 15 minutes after departing the island of [[Matsu]] on a 135 mile flight to [[Taipei]]. According to a U.S. Defense Department announcement, the attack was a swift - and perhaps unintentional - retribution for the Communist sailors who killed seven fellow crew members during their pre-dawn escape to freedom. <ref>United Press International, "''Migs [sic] Shoot Down Unarmed Chinese Plane''", Playground Daily News, Fort Walton Beach, Florida, Monday, 10 January 1966, Volume 19, Number 342, page 2.</ref>
*On 5 March 1967, [[U.S. Coast Guard]] [[HU-16 Albatross|HU-16E Albatross]], ''1240'', c/n G-61, out of [[St. Petersburg, Florida]], deploys to drop a dewatering pump to a sinking {{convert|40|ft|m|adj=on}} yacht, "''Flying Fish''", in the [[Gulf of Mexico]] off of [[Carrabelle, Florida]]. Shortly after making a low pass after the sinking vessel to drop the pump, the flying boat crashes a short distance away, with loss of all six crew. The vessel's heard a loud crash but could see nothing due to fog. Submerged wreck not identified until 2006.<ref>Barnette, Michael, ''Images of America - Florida's Shipwrecks'', Arcadia Publishing, Charleston, South Carolina, Portsmouth, New Hampshire, San Francisco, California, 2008, Library of Congress card number 2008921895, ISBN 978-0-7385-5413-6, page 122.</ref> Lost crew were Lt. Clifford E. Hanna, Lt. (jg). Charles F. Shaw, AD1 Ralph H. Studstill, AT1 Eckley M. Powlus, Jr, AT2 James B. Thompson, and AE3 Arthur L. Wilson. <ref>United Press International, "''Coast Guard Plane Feared Lost in Gulf''", Star-News, Pasadena, California, 6 March 1967.</ref>
*On 5 November 2009, Albatross N120FB of Albatross Adventures crashed shortly after take-off from [[St. Lucie County International Airport]], [[Fort Pierce, Florida]]. An engine failed shortly after take-off, the aircraft was damaged beyond economic repair.<ref name=ASN051109>{{cite web|url=http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=20091105-0 |title=Accident description |publisher=Aviation Safety Network |accessdate=7 November 2009}}</ref>
*On 5 November 2009, Albatross N120FB of Albatross Adventures crashed shortly after take-off from [[St. Lucie County International Airport]], [[Fort Pierce, Florida]]. An engine failed shortly after take-off, the aircraft was damaged beyond economic repair.<ref name=ASN051109>{{cite web|url=http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=20091105-0 |title=Accident description |publisher=Aviation Safety Network |accessdate=7 November 2009}}</ref>


Revision as of 22:11, 21 July 2011

HU-16 Albatross
Restored US Navy HU-16C BuNo 131906, built June 1953
Role Air-sea rescue flying boat
Manufacturer Grumman
First flight 1949
Introduction 1949
Primary users United States Air Force
United States Coast Guard
United States 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 utilized by the U.S. Air Force, the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Coast Guard, primarily as a search and rescue and combat 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 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 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.

Operational history

The majority of Albatrosses were used by the U.S. Air Force, primarily by the former Air Rescue Service, and initially designated as SA-16. The USAF utilized 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.[1]

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 "skunk runs" 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 Naval Aviation Museum at NAS Pensacola, Florida. [2] The final USCG flight of the Albatross 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.

Civil operations

Chalk's International Airlines Albatross arriving in Miami Harbor from Nassau, Bahamas, in 1987

In the mid-1960s the U.S. Department of the Interior bailed 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 only operated for 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.

Accidents and incidents

  • On 24 January 1952, SA-16A Albatross, 51-001, c/n G-74,[3] of the 580th Air Resupply Squadron (described as a Central Intelligence Agency air unit), on cross-country flight from Mountain Home AFB, Idaho, to San Diego, California, suffers failure of port engine over Death Valley, crew of six successfully bails out at ~1830 hrs. with no injuries, walks S some 14 miles to Furnace Creek, California where they are picked up the following day by an SA-16 from the 42d Air Rescue Squadron, March AFB, California. The abandoned SA-16 crashes into Towne Summit mountain ridge of the Panamint Range W of Stovepipe Wells with starboard engine still running. Wreckage is still there.[4]
  • On 9 January 1966, A Republic of China HU-16 carrying three Red Chinese naval defectors was shot down by Communist MiGs over the Straits of Formosa, just hours after they had surrendered their landing ship and asked for asylum. The Albatross was attacked just 15 minutes after departing the island of Matsu on a 135 mile flight to Taipei. According to a U.S. Defense Department announcement, the attack was a swift - and perhaps unintentional - retribution for the Communist sailors who killed seven fellow crew members during their pre-dawn escape to freedom. [5]
  • On 5 March 1967, U.S. Coast Guard HU-16E Albatross, 1240, c/n G-61, out of St. Petersburg, Florida, deploys to drop a dewatering pump to a sinking 40-foot (12 m) yacht, "Flying Fish", in the Gulf of Mexico off of Carrabelle, Florida. Shortly after making a low pass after the sinking vessel to drop the pump, the flying boat crashes a short distance away, with loss of all six crew. The vessel's heard a loud crash but could see nothing due to fog. Submerged wreck not identified until 2006.[6] Lost crew were Lt. Clifford E. Hanna, Lt. (jg). Charles F. Shaw, AD1 Ralph H. Studstill, AT1 Eckley M. Powlus, Jr, AT2 James B. Thompson, and AE3 Arthur L. Wilson. [7]
  • On 5 November 2009, Albatross N120FB of Albatross Adventures crashed shortly after take-off from St. Lucie County International Airport, Fort Pierce, Florida. An engine failed shortly after take-off, the aircraft was damaged beyond economic repair.[8]

Variants

An XJR2F-1 prototype at NAS Patuxent River in the 1940s.
  • XJR2F-1 - Prototype designation, two built.
  • HU-16A (originally SA-16A) - USAF version
  • HU-16A (originally UF-1) - Indonesian version
  • HU-16B (originally SA-16A) - USAF version (modified with long wing)
  • SHU-16B (modified HU-16B for Anti-Submarine Warfare) - export version
  • HU-16C (originally UF-1) - US Navy version
  • LU-16C (originally UF-1L) - US Navy version
  • TU-16C (originally UF-1T) - US Navy version
  • HU-16D (originally UF-1) - US Navy version (modified with long wing)
  • HU-16D (originally UF-2) - German version (built with long wing)
  • HU-16E (originally UF-1G) - US Coast Guard version (modified with long wing)
  • HU-16E (originally SA-16A) - USAF version (modified with long wing)
  • G-111 (originally SA-16A) - derived from USAF, JASDF, and German originals)
  • CSR-110 - RCAF version

Operators

 Argentina
 Brazil
 Canada
 Chile
 Republic of China
 Colombia
 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
 Venezuela

Survivors

Preserved Hellenic AF aircraft at Dekelia AB.

Specifications (HU-16B)

Data from Albatross - Amphibious Airborne Angel [10]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 4-6
  • Capacity: 10 passengersFuel Capacity: 675 US Gallons (2,550 L) internally, plus 400 US Gal (1,512 L) in wingtip floats plus two 300 US Gallon (1,135 L) drop tanks

Performance Armament

  • None

Notable appearances in media

Main article: Aircraft in fiction § HU-16 Albatross

See also

Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

References

  1. ^ Albatross Was a Maryland Air Guard Classic
  2. ^ http://www.history.navy.mil/avh-1910/PART10.PDF
  3. ^ 1951 USAF Serial Numbers. Joebaugher.com. Retrieved on 2010-11-25.
  4. ^ View topic - Albatross Plane Crash Site. Death-Valley.net. Retrieved on 2010-11-25.
  5. ^ United Press International, "Migs [sic] Shoot Down Unarmed Chinese Plane", Playground Daily News, Fort Walton Beach, Florida, Monday, 10 January 1966, Volume 19, Number 342, page 2.
  6. ^ Barnette, Michael, Images of America - Florida's Shipwrecks, Arcadia Publishing, Charleston, South Carolina, Portsmouth, New Hampshire, San Francisco, California, 2008, Library of Congress card number 2008921895, ISBN 978-0-7385-5413-6, page 122.
  7. ^ United Press International, "Coast Guard Plane Feared Lost in Gulf", Star-News, Pasadena, California, 6 March 1967.
  8. ^ "Accident description". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 7 November 2009.
  9. ^ http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=372
  10. ^ Dorr 1991, p.196.
  11. ^ Swanborough and Bowers 1976, p.230.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to HU-16 Albatross.
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