Grumman UF-1G/2G (later HU-16E) "Albatross" or "Goat"

March 24, 2020
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Grumman UF-1G/2G (later HU-16E) "Albatross" or "Goat" Information:

Grumman constructed 466 Albatross amphibians during their production run, which ran from September, 1947 through May, 1961. Of those the Coast Guard purchased or otherwise obtained a total of 91, beginning in May, 1951. These 91 Albatrosses flew for over 500,000 hours while in service with the Coast Guard. The last Coast Guard Albatross, number 7250, made its final landing on 10 March 1983, at Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod. The last true amphibious seaplane flown by the Coast Guard was then retired from service. Records for amphibian aircraft established by Coast Guard HU-16E 7255:

  • Speed over a 1,000 km closed course with a 1,000 kg load: Established by CDR Wallace C. Dahlgreen, USCG and CDR William G. Fenlon, USCG on 13 August 1962 at a speed of 201.5 knots.
  • Speed over a 1,000 km closed course with a 2,000 kg load: Established by CDR Wallace C. Dahlgreen, USCG and CDR William G. Fenlon, USCG on 13 August 1962 at a speed of 201.5 knots.
  • Speed over a 5,000 km closed course with a 1,000 kg load: Established on 15 and 16 September 1962 by two US Navy pilots flying Coast Guard HU-16E 7255 at a speed of 131.5 knots.
  • Altitude with a 1,000 kg load: Established on 12 September 1962 by two US Navy pilots flying Coast Guard HU-16E 7255 at the altitude 29, 475 feet.
  • Altitude with a 2,000 kg load: Established on 12 September 1962 by two US Navy pilots flying Coast Guard HU-16E 7255 at the altitude 27,405 feet.
  • Distance--non-stop: Established on 24 October 1962 on a flight from USCG AIRSTA Kodiak to the US Naval Air Station at Pensacola, a distance of 3,104 miles, by CDR William G. Fenlon, USCG, CDR Wallace G. Dahlgreen, USCG, LT W. Senn, USCG, and CPO W. Taggart, USCG.

Sources & further information:

Wayne Mutza, Grumman Albatross: A History of the Legendary Seaplane, (Atglen, PA: Schiffer Military/Aviation History, 1996), pp. 52-67. [He lists each USCG Albatross by tail number and gives a summary of what happened to each]

Arthur Pearcy, U.S. Coast Guard Aircraft Since 1916 (Annapolis: Naval Institute Press, 1991), pp. 320-321.

Gordon Swanborough & Peter M. Bowers. United States Navy Aircraft Since 1911 (Annapolis: Naval Institute Press, 1990) (revised), pp. 432-435.