Post by flyboy on Apr 1, 2017 13:34:53 GMT
THE GRUMMAN ALBATROSS
The Grumman Albatross was a development of the earlier Grumman Mallard. The aircraft first flight was in October 1947 and production was from 1949 - 1961. It was designed as a large flying boat capable of operating in the open ocean to undertake rescue missions. Designed to operate in seas with waves running at up to 4 feet (1.2m) it was capable of operations with seas up to 8 - 10 feet (2.4 - 3m) but needed JATO, jet/rocket assisted take-off in these conditions.
The majority of these aircraft were used by the U.S Air Force as the SA-16 seeing service during the Korean War, and having been modified as the HU-16B (with longer wings) during the Vietnam War. It was also used on covert infiltration and extraction duties, operations with the Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Service, the Air National Guard and the Air Force Reserve in addition to transport duties. Most of the movements of the USAF aircraft at Blackbushe were in connection with the rescue aircraft of the 67th Air Rescue Squadron which was based at Prestwick, Scotland.
The U.S Navy operated the Albatross as the UF-1 or UH-16 on search and rescue duties from coastal air stations both in the United States and abroad, one of which was NAS Agana, Guam during the Vietnam War. The type was a frequently visitor to Blackbushe in the 1957 to 1959 period often acting as a VIP transport and on duties associated with various U.S embassies while based in Norway, Greece, Italy etc.
The type was also used by the U.S Coast Guard for many years until retired in 1983 and by the Hellenic Navy (Greece) where it was finally retired in 1995.
Some continue to fly in civilian hands today (2017).
SPECIFICATION
Crew 2
Passengers 10
Engines 2x Wright Cyclone R-1820-76A radials.
Power 1425hp (1063kw)
Speed 236mph ( 205kts / 380km/h.)
Ceiling 21,500ft (6553m)
Range 2850mi (2477nm /4587km)
Weight Empty 22,884lbs (10,380kg)
Weight Max T/O 35,700lbs (16,193kg)
Wing Span 96' 8" (29.46m)
Length 61' 3" (18.67m)
Height 25' 10"(7.87m)
Total Produced 459
Details of Production Variants
XJR2F-1 Prototype designation - two built.
HU-16A Originally SA-16A - USAF version.
HU-16A Originally UF-1 - Indonesian version
HU-16B Originally SA-16B - USAF version (modified with long wing)
SHU-16B Modified HU-16B - anti-submarine warfare version - for export.
HU-16C Originally UF-1 - U.S Navy version.
HU-16D Originally UF-1 - U.S Navy modified with long wing
HU-16D Originally UF-2 - German version with long wing.
HU-16E Originally UF-1G - U.S Coast Guard version with long wing.
HU-16E Originally SA-16A - USAF version with long wing modification.
G-111 Originally SA-16A - derived from USAF, JASDF and German originals.
CSR-110 RCAF version.
Operated By:
Argentine Air Force and Navy.
Brazilian Air Force
Royal Canadian Air Force
Chilean Air Force and Navy
Republic of China Air Force
German Navy
Greek/Hellenic Air Force
Icelandic Coast Guard
Indonesian Air Force and Navy
Italian Air Force
Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force
Royal Malaysian Air Force
Mexican Navy
Royal Norwegian Air Force
Pakistan Air Force and Navy
Peruvian Air Force
Philippine Air Force and Navy
Portuguese Air Force
Spanish Air Force
Royal Thai Navy
U.S Air Force
U.S Navy
U.S Coast Guard.
Blackbushe Known Movements:
US NAVY
Reg c/n Type Operator Information Known visits
82854 GR02 XJR2F-1 Pelican US Navy Albatross 2nd prototype 6.3.55.
131898) G257 UF-1 Albatross --//-- US Attache to Greece 11.5.55,27.1.58 .
131898) --//-- --//-- --//-- US Navy Port Lyautey 15.5.60 from Rota.
137903) G376 --//-- --//-- FASRON 107 Iceland 22.3.57,24.3.57,1.8.57,19.10.57>
137093) --//-- --//-- --//-- --//-- 18.4.58,23.5.58,13.6.58,14.6.58>
137904 G377 --//-- --//-- US Navy Port Lyautey 10.8.57.
137915) G388 --//-- --//-- US Attache Oslo 30.6.57,3.7.57,20.8.57,21.8.57>
137915) --//-- --//-- --//-- --//-- 22.9.57,7.1.58,13.3.58,15.4.58>
137915) --//-- --//-- --//-- --//-- 4.9.58,5.9.58,18.10.58,18.12.58>
137915) --//-- --//-- --//-- --//-- 20.4.59,21.4.59,4.5.59,8.9.59.
141264 G411 --//-- --//-- US Navy Naples 7.6.58.
141281) --//-- --//-- US Attache Oslo 6.9.59-11.9.59,8.2.60>
141281) --//-- --//-- --//-- replaces 137915.
142361) G368 --//-- --//-- US Navy Attache Norway 4.3.57,7.3.57,17.4.57,11.6.57>
142361) --//-- --//-- --//-- --//-- 3.7.57.
USAF
51-0034 G109 HU-16 USAF ------------------- 7.12.56.
51-0053 G130 SA-16 --//-- 67th ARS Prestwick 5.10.57,3.11.57,5.11.57.
51-0059) G137 --//-- --//-- --//-- 13.11.57,11.1.58,13.1.58,14.1.58>
51-0059) --//-- --//-- --//-- --//-- 10.9.59.
51-5278 G158 --//-- --//-- ---------------------- 15.8.56.
51-5304 G187 --//-- --//-- 67th ARS Prestwick 30.10.58.
51-7152 G202 --//-- --//-- --//-- 26.5.58,28.1.60.
51-7169 G219 --//-- --//-- --//-- 5.1.58.
51.7185 G240 --//-- --//-- --//-- 10.7.57,12.2.58.
51-7218 G295 --//-- --//-- --//-- 24.11.57.
Please note that these are recorded visiting aircraft - there were probably more unrecorded.
CREDITS:
Wikipedia
rj Many thanks for access and use of his records. Still hope to see the Blackbushe History published shortly.
All the enthusiasts for recording the movements.
PB for the photographs.
JSM 2.4. 2017.
Complete.