Grumman HU-16 Albatross American Clipper

bilwor · **Posted:** Tue Aug 07, 2012 8:50 am

Grumman HU-16 "Albatross" (G90)(USN 149836)(USCG 1026)(N7026C)(American Clipper)
Tucson International Airport (TUS) July 25, 2012

Rajay · **Posted:** Tue Aug 07, 2012 8:59 am

Looks like it has been well cared for, but I gotta say that to me an Albatross looks funny without the nose radome. At least one if not more have had the nose radome replaced with a clear bubble window of the same shape, but while the view must be really cool, it still looks funny to me.

Fouga23 · **Posted:** Tue Aug 07, 2012 10:04 am

Nice! Movie paint or a tribute by the owner?

bilwor · **Posted:** Tue Aug 07, 2012 11:15 am

Newly restored former US Coast Guard 1026 with permanent paint. Work is being done on the interior. It made a short flight from one of the private bone yards to TUS for completion.
bill word

CoastieJohn · **Joined:** Fri Feb 11, 2011 5:37 pm **Posts:** 1380

Bill,

Do you have the CG logbook for it?

Thanks....John

andyman64 · **Posted:** Tue Aug 07, 2012 5:57 pm

i don,t think Grumman ever made an ugly aeroplane!!! and that is a beauty!!!!

CoastieJohn · **Joined:** Fri Feb 11, 2011 5:37 pm **Posts:** 1380

Uh oh!!!

We need to cross-check some numbers. My CG airplane historian say's this was not CG-1026. Here's the response.

Quote:

Beautiful machine....................BUT..!
All of the numbers that are contained in the header atop the first pic are a mixed-match an most
are incorrect.

Grumman HU-16 "Albatross" (G90)(USN 149836)(USCG 1026)(N7026C)(American Clipper)
Tucson International Airport (TUS) July 25, 2012

1. MSN G-90 indicates a USAF serial of 51-017 was an A-model ( as noted by the straight
trailing edge of the wing and the horizontal tab is set back behind the leading edge of the vertical
fin.

2. It was not CG 1026 as this airframe was modified to a UF-2G/HU-16E.

3. BUNO went from the USAF to the USN in 1960 and was retired in late 1962 when it was
placed in open storage at NAF Litchfiled Park, AZ, where it remained in storage between
1963 and 1965 when it was sold as scrap.

TAdan · **Posted:** Tue Aug 07, 2012 8:44 pm

Love it!

C VEICH · **Joined:** Sun Nov 15, 2009 12:40 pm **Posts:** 1471

That is really beautiful in my opinion. Thanks for sharing the pics Bill.

bilwor · **Posted:** Wed Aug 08, 2012 12:08 am

Thanks CoastieJohn for setting some things straight. Further I did not do my research very well
It is registered N7026C, c/n G.90, s/n 149836. It did serve with USAF as 51-0017. Warbirds Directory has it listed as a SA-16A, then a UF-1 and finally as a HU-16C. No mention of USCG service.

Sorry for the misinformation at first.
bill word

CoastieJohn · **Joined:** Fri Feb 11, 2011 5:37 pm **Posts:** 1380

Bill,

No worries. It's a beautiful plane.

Anytime I see a prospective former CG plane/helo I send it of to our CG aircraft historian. For a longtime he has been documenting the history of every aircraft the CG ever had in inventory. This goes back to the first ones in the early 1900's.

John

dirkCO · **Joined:** Sat Dec 29, 2012 3:06 pm **Posts:** 2

fantastic looking aircraft! Do you have any more photos? interior?

bilwor · **Posted:** Sat Dec 29, 2012 3:24 pm

These were the only photos I have. It left Tucson a couple of days later
bill word

WallyB · **Posted:** Sat Dec 29, 2012 4:04 pm

andyman64 wrote:

i don,t think Grumman ever made an ugly aeroplane!!!

XF-5F

dirkCO · **Joined:** Sat Dec 29, 2012 3:06 pm **Posts:** 2

well thanks for these!

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Grumman HU-16 Albatross American Clipper

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