Warplanes of the USA: Grumman HU-16 Albatross

Grumman HU-16 Albatross

(USN Photo)

A U.S. Navy Grumman UF-1 Albatross (BuNo 141270, after 1962 HU-16C) in flight. This aircraft was retired to the MASDC as 1U0035 on 30 December 1969 and later transferred to the Mexican Navy.

The Grumman HU-16 Albatross is a large, twin–radial engined amphibious flying boat 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.

(Bill Larkins Photo)

Grumman SA-16A Air Rescue, taking off from Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho in August 1952.

(Bill Larkins Photo)

Grumman SA-16A (51-49) at Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho in August 1952.

(Bill Larkins Photo)

Grumman SA-16A Albatross, USAF.

(USN Photo)

A Grumman HU-16B (ASW) Albatross wearing markings of U.S. Navy Patrol Squadron VP-31 pictured at Naval Air Station North Island, California. This aircraft was assigned to VP-31 for operational trials before delivery to foreign cutomers. It is the former U.S. Air Force SA-16A, s/n 51-0050, which was delivered on 21 April 1952. It was later converted to an HU-16B (ASW). Some sources report this aircraft was deleivered first to Norway before becoming the Peruvian "FAP 521" in 1970.

(Bill Larkins Photos)

Grumman SA-16 Albatross, California Air National Guard.

(USAF Photo)

U.S. Air Force aircrew assigned to the Maryland Air National Guard's 135th Air Commando Squadron prepare an Grumman HU-16B Albatross (S/n 51-035) for flight. The aircraft is painted black to facilitate covert night operations. The Maryland Air National Guard was equipped with HU-16s from 1956 to 1971. The HU-16B 51-035 was later sold to Italy (s/n MM51-035, coded 15-8) and is today preserved at Gorizia, Italy.

(Bill Larkins Photo)

Bell HTL-1 (22453) taking off over the Grumman XJR2F-1 (82853) at Floyd Bennett Field, New York, in May 1948.

(USCG Photo)

A U.S. Coast Guard Grumman UF-1G Albatross (s/n 1274) at the Coast Guard Air Station San Diego, California (USA), in 1954.

(NMUSAF Photo)

A U.S. Air Force Grumman HU-16B Albatross (Serial No. 51-5292) patrolling along the coast of South Vietnam in 1966.

(Hrtfx Photo)

A pair of USAF Grumman HU-16 Albatross seaplanes and a de Havilland U-6A Beaver, Narsarssuak Air Force Base, Greenland, 1956

(USAF Photo)

A U.S. Air Force Grumman SA-16A Albatross (after 1962 HU-16A, s/n 51-061, c/n G-139), of the 38th Air Rescue Squadron stationed in Japan, ca. 1953. This aircraft capsized in high seas on 13 January 1953.

(USAF Photo)

Grumman SA-16B Albatross (Serial No. 51-7255), 1960. Note the RATO bottles on the underwing pylon. Aircraft was later transferred to the US Coast Guard, then transferred to Philippines in 1970s. to N7039 of Aircraft Surplus Co, Tucson, Arizona.

(Tupelo Photo)

Grumman HU-16 Albatross (s/n 49-097) amphibian at MacDill AFB Florida, 1951 or early 1952.

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(Ted Quackenbush Photo)

Grumman UF-1G Albatross, US Coast Guard, 15 May 1954.

(USN Photo)

USN Grumman HU-16C Albatross.

(Alan Radecki Photo)

Restored HU-16 Albatross N3HU visiting the National Test Pilot School at Mojave, California.

(USN Photo)

US Navy HU-16 Albatross (BuNo. 141262) flying circa 1960.

(USN Photo)

A U.S. Navy Grumman UF-1 Albatross (BuNo 137908, after 1962 HU-16C) in flight, probably assigned to the Naval Auxiliary Air Station North Bend, Oregon (USA) (see "Umpqua" on the tail). This aircraft was retired to the MASDC as 1U0026 on 20 May 1968. It was sold in 1986, later restored, and still flying as late as 2006.

Albatross aircraft preserved

United States

(Eric Friedebach Photo)

(Aeroprints.com Photo)
USAF 51-0006 – HU-16B on static display at the Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum in Ashland, Nebraska.

(Mike Freer - Touchdown aviation Photo)
USAF 51-0022 – HU-16A on static display at the Pima Air and Space Museum in Tucson, Arizona.

(Alan Wilson Photo)
USAF 51-7144 – HU-16B on static display at the Museum of Aviation in Warner Robins, Georgia.

(Clemens Vasters Photo)

(Cameron11598 Photo)

(Alan Wilson Photo)
USAF 51-7163 – HU-16B on static display at the Castle Air Museum in Atwater, California.

(JoanJennings2024 Photo)
USAF 51-7176 – HU-16B on static display at Coast Guard Air Station Clearwaterin Clearwater, Florida. It was previously at the Pate Museum of Transportation, until its disassembly and relocation to CGAS Clearwater for restoration. It is marked as USCG 1023.
USAF 51-7193 – HU-16B on static display at Warfield Air National Guard Base in Baltimore, Maryland.
USAF 51-7195 – HU-16B on static display at the Yanks Air Museum in Chino, California.

(NMUSAF Photo)

(ZLEA Photo)
USAF 51-5282 – HU-16B on static display at the National Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton, Ohio. This was USAF's last operational HU-16. On 4July 1973, it established a world record for twin-engined amphibians when it reached 32,883 feet and was transferred to the Air Force Museum two weeks later.
USAF 51-5291 – HU-16B on static display at the Pima Air & Space Museum in Tucson, Arizona.
BuNo 137928 Hemisphere Dancer – HU-16C on static display at Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida. It previously owned by musician and pilot Jimmy Buffett.
BuNo 137932 – HU-16C on static display at the Hiller Aviation Museum in San Carlos, California. It was flown around the world by Reid W. Dennis in 1997.

(J.smith Photo)
USCG 7209 – HU-16E on static display at the Aerospace Museum of California in Sacramento, California.
USCG 7216 – HU-16E on static display with the Historic Aircraft Restoration Project at Floyd Bennett Field in New York, New York.

(Cliff Photo)
USCG 7228 – HU-16E on static display at the New England Air Museum in Windsor Locks, Connecticut.

(Greg Goebel Photo)
USCG 7236 – HU-16E on static display at the National Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, Florida.

(Alan Wilson Photo)

USCG 7238 - 131904. c/n G-333. Buckeye Municipal Airport. Arizona, Lauridsen Air Museum.

(USCG Photo)

(Eugene Zelenko Photo)
USCG 7245 – HU-16E on static display at the Pacific Coast Air Museum in Santa Rosa, California.
USCG 7247 – HU-16E on static display at Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City in Elizabeth City, North Carolina.

(USCG Photo)
USCG 7250 – HU-16E on static display at Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod in Mashpee, Massachusetts.

(Mike Freer - Touchdown Aviation Photo)
USCG 7251 – HU-16E on static display at the Dyess Linear Air Park at Dyess AirForce Base in Abilene, Texas.
USCG 7254 – HU-16E on static display at the Travis Air Force Base AviationMuseum at Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield, California.
USCG 1280 – HU-16E on static display at Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

(Alan Wilson Photos)
USCG 1293 – HU-16E on static display at the March Field Air Museum in Riverside, California.
USCG 2129 – HU-16E on static display at Battleship Memorial Park in Mobile,Alabama.

(USCG Photo)

A U.S. Coast Guard Grumman UF-2G (HU-16E) Albatross and a Douglas R4D (C-54) Skymaster at Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City, North Carolina, 1950.

Argentina
BS-02, Museo Nacional de Aeronáutica de Argentina
BS-02 – HU-16B on static display at the Museo de la Aviación Naval [es] atMoron, Buenos Aires.
BS-03 – HU-16B on static display at the Museo Aviación Naval in Buenos Aires.Displayed as Argentine Naval Aviation 4-BS-3.
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France

(pom' Photo)

0180 - Musée de l’Hydraviation, avenue Louis Breguet, Lac de Latécoère, Biscarrosse

Indonesia
IR-0117 – HU-16A on static display at the Dirgantara Mandala Museum in SlemanRegency, Yogyakarta.[86]
IR-0220 – HU-16A in storage at Husein Sastranegara International Airport inBandung, West Java, Indonesia. It was displayed during Bandung Airshow2017.[87][88]
Unknown – HU-16A on static display at Abdul Rachman Saleh Air Force Base inMalang, East Java, Indonesia.

Italy
MM50-179 – HU-16A on static display at the Italian Air Force Museum in Vigna diValle, Lazio.

Philippines
48607 – HU-16A on static display at the Philippine Air Force Aerospace Museumin Pasay, Philippines.

Thailand
BuNo 151265 – HU-16B on static display at U-Tapao Royal Thai Navy Airfield in Sattahip, Chonburi.

(Bill Larkins Photo)

Grumman CSR-110 Albatross, RCAF (Serial No. (9305), visiting NAS San Diego, California, Jan 1967.

9305 flew with No. 121 (K) Unit at RCAF Station Sea Island, BC in 1963 and 1964. With 442 Squadron at CFB Comox, BC after integration. In storage by 1 December 1970. Sold to Grumman on 19 August 1971, refurbished and re-sold to Mexican Navy in 1974. On US civil register as N9386.

(Ken Fielding Photo)

Grumman CSR-110 Albatross, RCAF (Serial No. 9301), 27 May 1967.

(Bill Larkins Photo)

Grumman SA-16A, Reg. No. N9944F, at Oakland in August 1954. One of four used by Transocean Air Lines in the Trust Territory.

(Frank Kovalchek Photo)

A 1955 Grumman HU-16C Albatros at the Alaska Airmen's Trade Show, May 2010, Anchorage, Alaska.