Grumman HU-16E Albatross
Grumman · United States · first flew 1949 · transport aircraft
The Grumman HU-16E Albatross is a long-range search and rescue amphibious flying boat that served the United States Air Force, Navy, and Coast Guard, as well as numerous allied air arms. The HU-16E was a modified variant optimized for USAF search-and-rescue duties.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 19.15 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Large amphibious flying boat with stabilizing floats on wings
- Twin radial engines on high-mounted straight wing
- Prominent hull bow and retractable undercarriage for land ops
A large, high-wing twin-radial amphibian with a deep boat hull, wingtip floats, and a retractable tricycle undercarriage; the long straight wing and rounded fuselage cross-section are characteristic Grumman features.
Specifications
- The Grumman HU-16E Albatross has a length of 19.15 m (63 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 29.46 m (97 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 380 km/h (236 mph).
- Typical crew: 6.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Grumman designed the Albatross in the late 1940s as a replacement for the earlier JRF Goose and PBF Widgeon. The prototype first flew in 1947, and the type entered USAF service as the SA-16 before redesignation as HU-16. The E suffix denoted updated avionics and systems for extended-range SAR missions. The aircraft saw extensive use during the Korean and Vietnam Wars in the rescue role.
Variants
The HU-16 family included the A and B models for the Navy, the USAF SA-16A and SA-16B, and the HU-16C and D coast guard versions. The HU-16E was a late USAF SAR variant with updated equipment. The HU-16B featured an extended wing.
Where you'll see it
Served with the USAF, US Navy, US Coast Guard, and over 20 foreign air arms including Greece, Japan, Taiwan, and Norway. The type was retired from US service in the 1970s but soldiered on with export operators into the 1990s.
Related aircraft
- Grumman CSR-110 Albatross
- Grumman HU-16 Albatross
- Grumman HU-16A Albatross
- Grumman HU-16C Albatross
- Beriev Be-6
- Douglas C-124 Globemaster II
- Douglas C-124C Globemaster II
- Fairchild C-119C Flying Boxcar
AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 5,024 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.