|
Description
| Manufacturer: | Grumman | |
| Base model: | U-16 | |
| Designation: | HU-16 | |
| Nickname: | Albatross | |
| Designation System: | U.S. Air Force | |
| Designation Period: | 1952-Present | |
| Basic role: | Utility | |
| Modified Mission: | Search and Rescue | |
| Crew: | Crew of four/six, up to ten | |
| First Flew: | 1947/10/24 | |
| See Also: | ||
Specifications
| Length: | 62' 3" | 19.0 m | |
| Height: | 26' 0" | 7.9 m | |
| Wingspan: | 97' 8" | 29.8 m | |
| Empty Weight: | 22,840 lb | 10,382 kg | |
| Gross Weight: | 35,635 lb | 16,160 kg | |
| Max Weight: | 35,635 lb | 16,198 kg | |
Propulsion
| No. of Engines: | 2 | ||
| Powerplant: | Wright R-1820-76BA radials | ||
| Horsepower (each): | 1425 | ||
Performance
| Range: | 3,274 miles | 5,281 km | |
| Cruise Speed: | 172 mph | 278 km/h | 150 kt |
| Max Speed: | 316 mph | 511 km/h | 276 kt |
Recent comments by our visitors
| PAUL M. STEUBE SOUTH BOSTON, VA | I flew the Albatross out of NAS Agana, Guam, 1966-68. I've come to a point in my life when I feel like indulging myself. I'm having a company build models of the 8 aircraft I flew in the Navy. Does anyone have pictures or diagrams showing JATO bottles mounted on the HU-16? 08/07/2011 @ 21:38 [ref: 45891] |
| John Harding Coffs Harbour, KS | We were a four-man team inspecting coral reefs at Kapingamarangi and Nukuoro during July 1969. Our transport from Agana, Guam was with HU-16's. We had two take-off's with JATO which was very exciting. Also ran onto a coral reef while preparing for take off. (As any boat captain knows, this is easy to do when the calm lagoon surface is glassy). I made a short film of the trip which will be put on You Tube eventually. Pictures from Kapingamarangi are now on our blog www.fathomoz.com (April 26, 2010). We would be interested in hearing from anyone who flew on those trips which were our best adventures of all time. 04/27/2010 @ 13:07 [ref: 26092] |
| John Gould Payson, AZ | I have a comment above but email has changed. to homebrewer7@gmail.com 10/03/2009 @ 07:26 [ref: 25149] |
| Rick Hageman Pocono Mountains of PA, PA | I was a Flight Crew Ordnanceman (AO3AC) onboard our Hu-16's at the Naval Air Station (NAS) Agana, Guam from 1969 through December 1970. We made numerous JATO (15KS1000 bottles)take-offs from Apra Harbor, Guam and from the outer islands and open waters, mainly for SAR. Although tempermental and very hot at times, they were very dependable! Considering Guam is so tropical with a Monsoon season, it was most refreshing to get airborne where the air was cooler. I acquired quite a few hours in these birds. 10/02/2008 @ 21:43 [ref: 22786] |
| John Thomas , FL | I Was rescued off the coast of Vietnam on 21 Sept 1966 by the crew of an HU 16. Would appreciate any information about the crew. I had an autographed picture but over the years it was lost. Thanks for any help. 08/01/2008 @ 11:08 [ref: 22322] |
| Thomas Sullivan Rangeley, ME |
I flew on the "Ruptured Duck" at Naval Station Trinidad from 1965 to 1968, just as the base was being decommissioned. Flew the milk run to Porto Rico once a week, and daily SAR missions. Oh Yea, and catch fish at small boats pier every night.ha ha 01/10/2008 @ 13:37 [ref: 19219] |
| John Gould Payson, AZ | 1955-1956 I flew on many aircraft as radio operator but the time with the SA-16 with the 54th ARS in Goose Bay Labrador was my favorite time One year on that aircraft. Hated it at first but came to love this thing with all it's problems. Made so many water landings got used to it.Never had to use jato to get out of water. Landing, First one scared me. Thought I was a goner. Coufgt on fire from the apu many times. This plane would fly in weather and we had to, when nothing could get off the ground. GCA and tower could not get us down many times but we would land sooner or later. Several times a crew member would have to be at the end of a rope with a lite so the pilot could see the way to runway just to get our 4 hrs for flight pay before the 19th. Looking for a lost prospector was my favorite mission. Great story. johnny@localnet.com
Love to hear from anyone esp. radio ops. 12/09/2007 @ 08:32 [ref: 18857] |
| allan pochop Warrensburg,, MO | Better known to us Navy types as a UF-1 or 2. I was a SAR crew chief on Bu. No. 137922. Which was a UF-1 converted to UF-2 status, by a wing extensions.
Stationed at NAS Port Lyautey, Kentria, Morocco. 1960-62. JATO (why jato?) it was direct propulsion rocket, 1000lb. thrust for 14 seconds, four bottle maximum. (ok) JATO, I made takeoff's on land, and off the bay of Gibrator. Although the take offs were impressive, the water landings were of my concern. After the initial water contact, and when the aircraft would be awash with water, the thought crossed my mine are we still an aircrft or now a submarine? After landing in the bay, now came the task of hositing the four 145 lb. JATO bottles to there mounts, while the 32k aircraft is wallowing around, had an AO on board, must be for arming cannot remember, but the AE would confirm the circuit was dead. Had two engine failures while I was there, 1st, I was the flying crew chief out of Port Lyautey, when the no. 2 engine on rotation decided to eat itself up, a 360 back to field. The aircraft maintained altitude on the single engine, but extending the gear for landing, my memory tells me that the drag really knocked off the airspeed, stall prevention came with nose down for minimum slow flight, while waiting, for what seemed and hour for the single hyd. pump to extend the starboard gear and lock it. The second engine failure, again No.2, coming out of Terrojon AFB, Spain, I was a passenger setting on the starboard side noticed what looked like rain on the window, nope engine oil, lots of engine oil. Returned to Terrojon, for there 10-12K runway. As a mech. enjoyed the aircraft, my main engine problem was with the APU, hard to get to, slung oil all over the compartment, tempermental SOB. History shows that at one time 137922, was stationed at NS Midway Is. (I was there in 1962-63 AEWBARRONAPAC). Was in South America (Columbia). Bu. No. 137922 finished up its life with the Phillipine Air Force, they cut it up for scrap in 1995. 12/07/2007 @ 10:26 [ref: 18835] |
| allan pochop Warrensburg,, MO | Better known to us Navy types as a UF-1 or 2. I was a SAR crew chief on Bu. No. 137922. Which was a UF-1 converted to UF-2 status, by a wing extensions.
Stationed at NAS Port Lyautey, Kentria, Morocco. 1960-62. JATO (why jato?) it was direct propulsion rocket, 1000lb. thrust for 14 seconds, four bottle maximum. (ok) JATO, I made takeoff's on land, and off the bay of Gibrator. Although the take offs were impressive, the water landings were of my concern. After the initial water contact, and when the aircraft would be awash with water, the thought crossed my mine are we still an aircrft or now a submarine? After landing in the bay, now came the task of hositing the four 145 lb. JATO bottles to there mounts, while the 32k aircraft is wallowing around, had an AO on board, must be for arming cannot remember, but the AE would confirm the circuit was dead. Had two engine failures while I was there, 1st, I was the flying crew chief out of Port Lyautey, when the no. 2 engine on rotation decided to eat itself up, a 360 back to field. The aircraft maintained altitude on the single engine, but extending the gear for landing, my memory tells me that the drag really knocked off the airspeed, stall prevention came with nose down for minimum slow flight, while waiting, for what seemed and hour for the single hyd. pump to extend the starboard gear and lock it. The second engine failure, again No.2, coming out of Terrojon AFB, Spain, I was a passenger setting on the starboard side noticed what looked like rain on the window, nope engine oil, lots of engine oil. Returned to Terrojon, for there 10-12K runway. As a mech. enjoyed the aircraft, my main engine problem was with the APU, hard to get to, slung oil all over the compartment, tempermental SOB. History shows that at one time 137922, was stationed at NS Midway Is. (I was there in 1962-63 AEWBARRONAPAC). Was in South America (Columbia). Bu. No. 137922 finished up its life with the Phillipine Air Force, they cut it up for scrap in 1995. 12/07/2007 @ 10:26 [ref: 18833] |
| allan pochop Warrensburg,, MO | Better known to us Navy types as a UF-1 or 2. I was a SAR crew chief on Bu. No. 137922. Which was a UF-1 converted to UF-2 status, by a wing extensions.
Stationed at NAS Port Lyautey, Kentria, Morocco. 1960-62. JATO (why jato?) it was direct propulsion rocket, 1000lb. thrust for 14 seconds, four bottle maximum. (ok) JATO, I made takeoff's on land, and off the bay of Gibrator. Although the take offs were impressive, the water landings were of my concern. After the initial water contact, and when the aircraft would be awash with water, the thought crossed my mine are we still an aircrft or now a submarine? After landing in the bay, now came the task of hositing the four 145 lb. JATO bottles to there mounts, while the 32k aircraft is wallowing around, had an AO on board, must be for arming cannot remember, but the AE would confirm the circuit was dead. Had two engine failures while I was there, 1st, I was the flying crew chief out of Port Lyautey, when the no. 2 engine on rotation decided to eat itself up, a 360 back to field. The aircraft maintained altitude on the single engine, but extending the gear for landing, my memory tells me that the drag really knocked off the airspeed, stall prevention came with nose down for minimum slow flight, while waiting, for what seemed and hour for the single hyd. pump to extend the starboard gear and lock it. The second engine failure, again No.2, coming out of Terrojon AFB, Spain, I was a passenger setting on the starboard side noticed what looked like rain on the window, nope engine oil, lots of engine oil. Returned to Terrojon, for there 10-12K runway. As a mech. enjoyed the aircraft, my main engine problem was with the APU, hard to get to, slung oil all over the compartment, tempermental SOB. History shows that at one time 137922, was stationed at NS Midway Is. (I was there in 1962-63 AEWBARRONAPAC). Was in South America (Columbia). Bu. No. 137922 finished up its life with the Phillipine Air Force, they cut it up for scrap in 1995. 12/07/2007 @ 10:26 [ref: 18834] |
Recent photos uploaded by our visitors
