The Grumman HU-16 Albatross is a large twin–radial engine amphibious seaplane that was used by the United States Air Force (USAF), the U.S. Navy (USN) and the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), primarily as a 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.
An improvement of the design of the Grumman Mallard, the Albatross was developed to land in open ocean situations to accomplish rescues. Its deep-V hull cross-section and keel length enable it to land in the open sea.
Manufacturer: Grumman
First flight: October 24, 1947
Introduction: 1949
Retired: 1995 (Hellenic Navy)
Status: retired
Produced: 1949–1961
Number built: 466
General characteristics
Crew: 4-6
Capacity: 10 passengers
Length: 62 ft 10 in (19.15 m)
Wingspan: 96 ft 8 in (29.46 m)
Height: 25 ft 10 in (7.87 m)
Wing area: 1,035 sq ft (96.2 m2)
Airfoil: NACA 23017
Empty weight: 22,883 lb (10,380 kg)
Gross weight: 30,353 lb (13,768 kg)
Max takeoff weight: 37,500 lb (17,010 kg)
Fuel capacity: 675 US gal (562.1 imp gal; 2,555.2 l) internal fuel + 400 US gal (333.1 imp gal; 1,514.2 l) in wingtip floats + two 300 US gal (249.8 imp gal; 1,135.6 l) drop tanks
Powerplant: 2 × Wright R-1820-76A Cyclone 9 9-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engines, 1,425 hp (1,063 kW) each for take-off
1,275 hp (951 kW) normal rating from sea level to 3,000 ft (914 m)
Propellers: 3-bladed Hamilton Standard constant-speed fully-feathering reversible-pitch propellers
Performance
Maximum speed: 236 mph (380 km/h, 205 kn)
Cruise speed: 124 mph (200 km/h, 108 kn)
Stall speed: 74 mph (119 km/h, 64 kn)
Range: 2,850 mi (4,590 km, 2,480 nmi)
Service ceiling: 21,500 ft (6,600 m)
Rate of climb: 1,450 ft/min (7.4 m/s)
The Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation, later Grumman Aerospace Corporation, was a 20th century American producer of military and civilian aircraft.
Founded on December 6, 1929, by Leroy Grumman and his business partners, it merged in 1994 with Northrop Corporation to form Northrop Grumman.
