Surf Birds

[tom d. friedman]

saw alot of albatrosses in the bahamas operated by chalks air service 2 years ago. they are the largest operator of the type, & they maintain them well!! their airbase / flying boat base is in the vicinity of the atlantis hotel & casino. best, tom

[Joe Scheil]

I believe the Billabong Albatross is N116FB, and therefor technically not an ex HU-16 from DM. 116FB is a "Chalks" airplane and is an or a G-111 instead of a G-64. A G-111 is a reworked Albatross modified by Grumman themselves, denoting the new model number at either Stuart or St. Augustine. This remanufacturing replaces the wing spar caps with titanium ones, lifting the life limitation on the airframe. The aircraft also has new passenger exit hatches installed allowing it to be certified for airline operations. There have been 13 conversions and most were owned by one person for future airline use. Grumman St Augustine will do more conversions if you want, but they may cost a couple million a plane these days. N116FB is an ex JASDF UF-2 and was 148325.

The Albatrosses were in store in both Marana, Carson City and perhaps other places. The G-111 is a modern certifiable standard category aircraft, not a repainted warbird. They fly good too.

[airnutz]

Hmmmnnn...Joe, that's in conflict with Billabongs website. They identify it
as an HU-16B, Longwing (96 feet), N7973B. They say she will not be
available for charter..since she retains a Restricted Certification from
the FAA. In the photos of her debut in Newport Harbor she appears to
retain the standard military accesses. Same with the website resto photos.

Have you seen another Billabong ship matching your description?

[airnutz]

Further information..In the Billabong site is a photo at the resto-shop
bearing a partial #(85303)...running this number as N85303
comes up as the former registration of Billabongs N7973B. Ser.#51-5303

http://162.58.35.241/acdatabase/NNumSQL ... rtxt=85303

Looks like Scott has an update for the warbird registry! I guess, pretty
new photos will eventually follow.

[Eric Rogers]

I heard the other day the the current N7973B is being leased while the one that Billabong had purchased was being restored. I also Learned of the other Albatross that was mentioned earlier in this thread from Michigan that was thought to have been used by Billabong actually was leased by Quicksilver. They are apparently another surf operation that leased N7025 for some publicity stuff that they were doing. N7025 had some stickers applied to it. This was apparently a short term lease that was done for promotional purposes. As part of the aggreement if the stickers did any damage to the paint Quicksilver agreed to repaint it for the owner. It is being repainted now back to its original sheme.

Eric


http://thecrossing.quiksilver.com/sea_plane.aspx

[Randy Haskin]

saw alot of albatrosses in the bahamas operated by chalks air service 2 years ago. they are the largest operator of the type, & they maintain them well!! their airbase / flying boat base is in the vicinity of the atlantis hotel & casino. best, tom

I thought that Chalk's flew mostly Turbo Mallards and had only one or two Albatrosses?

[airnutz]

The Billabong Bird is N7973B, # 51-503. They are leasing other HU-16's
in order to get their crew trained for their plannned adventures. Some
interesting ideas are being tested and "fiddled-with ". One HAIRY Idea
they have is, they've designed a "jetski-pod" to carry underwing!!
One of the HU-16's they're training with is in USN SAR colors...B-Gray/
White/Yellow, with 911 on a Yellow badge underneath the left seat window.
Got a clear-plexy bubble instead of the black Pluto radome nose. No N#,
but does anyone know this bird?? I get the impression from their photos that they are in North Cali for some of this...Ask a question..get 10 more!
A fella named Mike Castillo is introduced as Pilot-in-charge.

Billabong President Paul Naude' , seems is game for the love of it! His dad
John Naude', P-51 DFC Korea..was an RAF seaplane pilot WW2 and
Sunderland-jock... pre-/and post Korea in South Africa. All I was asking
in my initial response, was....was there another 'Bong in the same colors?

If not, then things seem to be going as Mr. Naude' has intimated to us thru
the website. Sounds like another one o' them..history-luvvi'n hippies
with a Hearty work ethic, and a luv for Amphibs..I'd have a beer with 'im..

Anyway..that's the way I read it.... www.billabongclipper.com