HU-16 Albatross (wallpaper 4)

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HU-16 Albatross (wallpaper 4)
HU-16 Albatross aircraft images wallpaper gallery 4. HU-16 Albatross airplane pictures and images collection 4.
Special Purpose Aircraft. 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 the single prototype (registration N16CA) was ever built. Many surplus Albatrosses were sold to civilian operators, mostly to private owners. HU-16 Albatross (wallpaper 4). HU-16 Albatross aircraft images wallpaper gallery 4. HU-16 Albatross airplane pictures and images collection 4. 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. HU-16 Albatross (wallpaper 4). HU-16 Albatross aircraft images wallpaper gallery 4. HU-16 Albatross airplane pictures and images collection 4.

HU-16 Albatross (Wallpaper 1)
HU-16 Albatross (Wallpaper 2)
HU-16 Albatross (Wallpaper 3)

HU-16 Albatross (wallpaper 3)

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HU-16 Albatross (wallpaper 3)
HU-16 Albatross aircraft images wallpaper gallery 3. HU-16 Albatross airplane pictures and images collection 3.
Special Purpose Aircraft. The Grumman HU-16 Albatross is a large twin-radial engine amphibious flying boat. Originally designated SA-16, it was renamed HU-16 in 1962. 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 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. The majority of Albatrosses were used by the U.S. Air Force, primarily by the 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. HU-16 Albatross (wallpaper 3). HU-16 Albatross aircraft images wallpaper gallery 3. HU-16 Albatross airplane pictures and images collection 3. 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. The U.S. Navy also employed the HU-16D 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; 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 Navy HU-16 flight was made 13 August 1976 when an Albatross was delivered to the Naval Aviation Museum at NAS Pensacola. HU-16 Albatross (wallpaper 3). HU-16 Albatross aircraft images wallpaper gallery 3. HU-16 Albatross airplane pictures and images collection 3.

HU-16 Albatross (Wallpaper 1)
HU-16 Albatross (Wallpaper 2)
HU-16 Albatross (Wallpaper 4)

HU-16 Albatross (wallpaper 2)

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HU-16 Albatross (wallpaper 2)
HU-16 Albatross aircraft images wallpaper gallery 2. HU-16 Albatross airplane pictures and images collection 2.
Special Purpose Aircraft. Since 1950 the HU-16 Grumman Albatross had done yeoman service — an old workhorse and veteran of two wars. It was the only fixed-wing aircraft capable of performing a rescue on water, and its effectiveness would be readily attested to by over 80 aircrew members who had been recovered from the Gulf of Tonkin from 1964 through 1967. Over the years it proved to be a very versatile aircraft. It had a 2500-mile cruising range and can land on water, ice, or snow. Its usefulness was limited, however, by its slow speed, low altitude, and age. Plans for an HU-16 replacement first got off the ground in 1971, when the Coast Guard Aircraft Characteristics Board met to outline the general requirements for a new MRS aircraft. After reviewing the Board's report, the Coast Guard decided to evaluate the ability of available aircraft to meet the standards proposed through a series of trials with a leased turbo-jet (Israeli-Westwind) and a turbo fan-jet (Cessna Citation). HU-16 Albatross (wallpaper 2). HU-16 Albatross aircraft images wallpaper gallery 2. HU-16 Albatross airplane pictures and images collection 2. From April to August 1973 the Coast Guard collected test data from the two leased aircraft. Evaluation of the data determined that the proposed MRS aircraft should have a multi-engine fan jet configuration. The new HU-25A MRS aircraft is a derivative of the Falcon 20G business jet manufactured by the Falcon Jet Corporation. By Fiscal Year 1979 there were no HU-16's in the Coast Guard inventory. On 12 August 1976 the last of the Navy’s seaplanes, a HU-16 Albatross, departed Guantanamo Bay for the Naval Aviation Museum in NAS, Pensacola, Fla. A 20-year old C-131 passenger/cargo plane replaced the air station’s HU-16 seaplanes. The HU-16 on display at the Air Force Museum was one of the last operational USAF Albatrosses. It established a world altitude record for twin-engine amphibians when it reached 32,883 feet on July 4, 1973. Two weeks later, it was flown to the museum. HU-16 Albatross (wallpaper 2). HU-16 Albatross aircraft images wallpaper gallery 2. HU-16 Albatross airplane pictures and images collection 2.

HU-16 Albatross (Wallpaper 1)
HU-16 Albatross (Wallpaper 3)
HU-16 Albatross (Wallpaper 4)

HU-16 Albatross

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HU-16 Albatross (wallpaper 1)
HU-16 Albatross aircraft images wallpaper gallery 1. HU-16 Albatross airplane pictures and images collection 1.
Special Purpose Aircraft. The HU-16 Albatross made numerous dramatic and hazardous rescues in Southeast Asia, on occasion taxiing many miles over rough, open water when unable to take off. The rapid increase in rescue requirements generated by direct involvement of U.S. forces created an acute shortage of experienced HU-16 and helicopter pilots. The Air Force approached the Coast Guard for supplemental help at the beginning of 1966. An aviator exchange program was suggested. However, it was not until March 1967 that the Coast Guard agreed on an implementing memorandum of agreement. The HU-16s, replaced by the HH-3Es, were not phased out of Vietnam service by the fall of 1967. By September 30, 1967 the HU-16 Albatross had completed its last. amphibious recovery and was replaced by the HH-3E helicopter. By 1971, the U-16's, which were then 20-25 years old, had neared the end of their life cycle. HU-16 Albatross (wallpaper 1). HU-16 Albatross aircraft images wallpaper gallery 1. HU-16 Albatross airplane pictures and images collection 1. Since April 1972, the U-16 aircraft were being phased out at the rate of seven per year due to corrosion, atigue of the main wing spar, and general obsolescence. The remaining HU-16's were not able to keep up with the large RS mission demand. Other Coast Guard aircraft, such as the C-130and the H-3 and H-52 helicopters, were called on handle some of the medium range search missions previously handled by the HU-16's. The Coast Guard also reactivated several C-131's retired by the Air Force. These airplanes were operated until the new MRS aircraft were available. The prototype airborne oil surveillance system (AOSS I) developed for the U.S. Coast Guard by Aerojet ElectroSystems under Contract DOT-CG-22170A was modified and transferred from a HU-16 aircraft to a HC-130B aircraft. The added capabilities of the new system configuration were verified by a flight test program. Modifications to the system included (1) the addition of a high resolution aerial reconnaissance camera, (2) the addition of a dual look (left and right) capability for the SLAR, (3) automatic SLAR target position location, (4) an airborne remote temperature measurement capability, (5) simultaneous multispectral recording capability for the IR-UV line scanner data, and (6) improved processing of passive microwave imager data. The proven system capabilities of AOSS I combined with the added capabilities incorporated into AOSS II provide a unique and valuable system to support all U.S. Coast Guard missions. By 1977 the system was operational and based at Elizabeth City, North Carolina. HU-16 Albatross (wallpaper 1). HU-16 Albatross aircraft images wallpaper gallery 1. HU-16 Albatross airplane pictures and images collection 1.

HU-16 Albatross (Wallpaper 2)
HU-16 Albatross (Wallpaper 3)
HU-16 Albatross (Wallpaper 4)