|
Description
| Manufacturer: | Grumman | |
| Base model: | A-16 | |
| Designation: | SA-16 | |
| Version: | B | |
| Nickname: | Albatross | |
| Designation System: | U.S. Air Force | |
| Designation Period: | 1948-1962 | |
| Basic role: | Amphibian | |
| Modified Mission: | Search and Rescue | |
| See Also: | ||
Specifications
| Length: | 61' 10" | 18.8 m | |
| Height: | 25' 10" | 7.8 m | |
| Wingspan: | 96' 8" | 29.4 m | |
| Gross Weight: | 35,998 lb | 16,326 kg | |
| Max Weight: | 36,000 lb | 16,326 kg | |
Propulsion
| No. of Engines: | 2 | ||
| Powerplant: | Wright R-1820 | ||
| Horsepower (each): | 1425 | ||
Performance
| Cruise Speed: | 165 mph | 265 km/h | 143 kt |
| Max Speed: | 250 mph | 402 km/h | 217 kt |
| Ceiling: | 22,000 ft | 6,705 m | |
Examples of this type may be found at
| Museum | City | State |
| Castle Air Museum | Atwater | California |
| Maryland ANG - 175th FG, Baltimore | Baltimore | Maryland |
| Museum of Aviation | Warner Robins AFB | Georgia |
| National Atomic Museum | Kirtland AFB | New Mexico |
| New England Air Museum | Windsor Locks | Connecticut |
| Strategic Air Command Museum | Ashland | Nebraska |
| Travis Air Force Museum | Travis AFB | California |
| United States Air Force Museum | Wright-Patterson | Ohio |
HU-16B on display
Castle Air Museum | Museum of Aviation | New England Air Museum | Strategic Air Command Museum | |
United States Air Force Museum |
Recent comments by our visitors
| John Gould Payson, AZ | I was a radio operator on the SA-16 at Goose Bay AFB in 1955 and 1956. Loved this aircraft. Flew when nothing could get off the groung in the winter. Took a long time to locate the runway sometimes. The pilot was Cpt. Seward. I also flew many "Duck Buts" and searching for an old prospector was a fun time. Eskimos bitten buy dogs. had a KC-97 blown up. Later went to SAC on those same aircraft. Like to hear from those that were up there in those years esp. Radio ops. I was in the 54th ARS. contact me at
johnnygo@localnet.com 12/16/2007 @ 07:21 [ref: 18940] |
| Roger Vartabedian Sacramento, CA | While I was stationed at Luke AFB, AZ from 1966 - 1970, I would catch flights with the 302nd Rescue Squadron (Reserve) and get hops up to Hamilton AFB, CA to see the family.
Used to love doing the water landings and JATO take offs! Great airplane and saw a recently restored on (painted a baby blue and white) at an airfield near Portola, California and it looked great!!!!! 12/04/2007 @ 14:40 [ref: 18791] |
| Paul Lindsey West Melbourne, FL | I was an airborne radio operator on SA-16s with the 51st ARS at Narsarssuak Air Base Greenland 1955 and 1956. Flew many Duckbutt missions for fighters crossing the atlantic. Those were the days. What a grand old aircraft she was. 11/12/2007 @ 04:12 [ref: 18509] |
| Don Minnish Goldsboro, NC | I worked and flew on air rescue HU-16B's at DaNang AB, from June '66 to June 67. I was a crew chief, but unfortunally can't remember any aircraft tail #'s. I do know we picked up a bunch of pilots out in the gulf of tonkin during my tour there that would have been killed or taken prisoner. Have many fond memories of happy pilots buying a case of beer for crew and crew chiefs after a pick-up. Only one thing bothers me......it's as if we were never there. Once the Jolly green heilcopters got there and started making "saves" thats all you hear about. The HU-16's were there long before the 'choppers' , but I have never heard them mentioned in any news coverage of the war. I remember a certain Capt. Miller, who on being told not to pick up a downed pilot from the water would reply "Oh,no, I'm going in, we have spotted sharks in the water!" And therefore he wouldn't wait for a Jolly Green to arrive on the scene. 03/17/2007 @ 14:51 [ref: 15922] |
| Don Minnish Goldsboro, NC | I worked and flew on air rescue HU-16B's at DaNang AB, from June '66 to June 67. I was a crew chief, but unfortunally can't remember any aircraft tail #'s. I do know we picked up a bunch of pilots out in the gulf of tonkin during my tour there that would have been killed or taken prisoner. Have many fond memories of happy pilots buying a case of beer for crew and crew chiefs after a pick-up. Only one thing bothers me......it's as if we were never there. Once the Jolly green heilcopters got there and started making "saves" thats all you hear about. The HU-16's were there long before the 'choppers' , but I have never heard them mentioned in any news coverage of the war. I remember a certain Capt. Miller, who on being told not to pick up a downed pilot from the water would reply "Oh,no, I'm going in, we have spotted sharks in the water!" And therefore he wouldn't wait for a Jolly Green to arrive on the scene. 03/17/2007 @ 14:51 [ref: 15921] |
| Don Minnish Goldsboro, NC | I worked and flew on air rescue HU-16B's at DaNang AB, from June '66 to June 67. I was a crew chief, but unfortunally can't remember any aircraft tail #'s. I do know we picked up a bunch of pilots out in the gulf of tonkin during my tour there that would have been killed or taken prisoner. Have many fond memories of happy pilots buying a case of beer for crew and crew chiefs after a pick-up. Only one thing bothers me......it's as if we were never there. Once the Jolly green heilcopters got there and started making "saves" thats all you hear about. The HU-16's were there long before the 'choppers' , but I have never heard them mentioned in any news coverage of the war. I remember a certain Capt. Miller, who on being told not to pick up a downed pilot from the water would reply "Oh,no, I'm going in, we have spotted sharks in the water!" And therefore he wouldn't wait for a Jolly Green to arrive on the scene. 03/17/2007 @ 14:51 [ref: 15920] |
| TJ HARRIS CMSGT RET PANAMA CITY, FL | I WAS A CREW CHIEF ON THE HU-16B AT EGLIN AFB, FL 48TH ARRS AND 37TH ARRS DANANGE AB, VIETNAM. GREAT AIRCRAFT SAVED A LOT OF LIVES. SOME OF THE BEST MEMORIES OF MY 30 YEARS AIR FORCE CAREER. THE ALBATROSS ONE TOUGH AIRCRAFT. 10/19/2006 @ 15:44 [ref: 14509] |
| Bob Erickson , MI | The picture of the HU 16B at the Stategic Air Command Museum has the tail number 51-0006. When I was stationed at Goose Bay, Labrador I worked in DCM Material Control. I use to have to try to get parts for this very aircraft and the two other HU 16B's that we had there. Their tail numbers were 51-0008 and 51-0065. These were the last three HU 16 still serving the U.S. Air Force. I beleive that 51-0006 developed a crack on one of the wings in 1970 and had a temporary fix put on it to fly it to the museum from the Goose. The crew chief was going to tell pilots that volunteered to fly it there that it was very unsafe, so the Commandor sent him on leave. The plane made it there with a stop at Gander, Newfoundland for an engine problem. I will never forget trying to get parts for these aircraft from the Navy depot, especially when they found out I was Air Force. I have a lot of fond memories and stories of these aircarft, especially flying in one and landing on the water. 08/11/2006 @ 13:00 [ref: 13861] |
| Paul Hedden Matawan, NJ | Spent many hours working as 43131A on my first assignment in BW1, Narssuak, Greenland, with the 51st Air Rescue Sq. We had 5 SA-16s for search and rescue and orbit missions.
Base closed in Spring of 57 & I never got to work on them again. 05/17/2005 @ 23:16 [ref: 10249] |
| E.Tritremmel Anchorage, AK | Does anyone know how many passenders the Grumman SA-16B will carry?
Thanks, 01/06/2005 @ 12:52 [ref: 9063] |
Recent photos uploaded by our visitors
