![]() ![]() The final USCG HU-16 flight was at CGAS Cape Cod in March 1983, when the aircraft type was retired by the USCG. 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. 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 USAF HU-16 flight was the delivery of AF Serial No. 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. 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. Open-water landings and water takeoff training using JATO was also conducted frequently by U.S. Goodwill flights were also common to the surrounding Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands in the early 1970s. 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. Navy also employed the HU-16C/D Albatross as an SAR aircraft from coastal naval air stations, both stateside and overseas. Other examples of the HU-16 made their way into Air Force Reserve rescue and recovery units prior to its retirement from USAF service. 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. 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. ![]() The USAF used the SA-16 extensively in Korea for combat rescue, where it gained a reputation as a rugged and seaworthy craft. Air Force (USAF), primarily in the search and rescue (SAR) mission role, and initially designated as SA-16. Grumman HU-16 Albatross at MacDill AFB Florida 1951 or early 1952 ![]() 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. Its deep-V hull cross-section and keel length enable it to land in the open sea. Design and development Īn improvement of the design of the Grumman Mallard, the Albatross was developed to land in open-ocean situations to accomplish rescues. A new build G-111T Albatross with modern avionics and engines was proposed in 2021 with production in Australia to commence in 2025. 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. Coast Guard (USCG), primarily as a search and rescue (SAR) aircraft. 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. ![]()
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