by Rajay » Mon Jun 24, 2013 9:54 pm
Under Section II for the “Grumman Model HU-16B (Restricted Category), approved September 29, 1988” nominally meaning ex-USAF long-wing Albatross aircraft, the following ex-military serial numbers are listed:
0126, 1030, 9099, 51-5291, 51-7195A, 51-0043, 86B, 51-0019, 51-7162, 49-097, 99-7213, 51-7187, 51-025, 2132, 51-7246, 51-5303, 146427, and 51-7240
Of those serial numbers, 0126, 1030, 9099, 51-7195A, 86B, 99-7213, 2132, and 146427 are not valid ex-USAF serial numbers.
If “0126” is a typo for “1026” then that aircraft was Grumman OEM s/n G-100 and it was built for the USAF as a short-wing model SA-16A (USAF serial no. 51-026, aka “1026” as would have been painted on its tail) but it was subsequently transferred to the US Coast Guard as a model UF-1G (USCG serial no. 1026) and was subsequently converted into a long-wing model UF-2G / HU-16E – which would now be covered under Section V of the TC in question.
“1030” probably represents Grumman OEM s/n G-104 which was built for the USAF as a short-wing model SA-16A (USAF serial no. 51-030, aka “1030” as would have been painted on its tail) but it was subsequently transferred to the US Coast Guard as a model UF-1G (USCG serial no. 1030) and was subsequently converted into a long-wing model UF-2G / HU-16E – which would now be covered under Section V of the TC.
“9099” is most likely Grumman OEM s/n G-57 which was originally ordered by the US Navy as a model “PF-1” (Bu. no. 124322) but prior to delivery the contract was cancelled and the aircraft was completed for the USAF as a short-wing model SA-16A (USAF serial no. 49-099, aka “9099” as would have been painted on its tail.) In 1958 it was sold to Chile but then in 1962 it was converted into a long-wing SA-16B ASW (Anti-Submarine Warfare) variant with a bulbous, nose-mounted sea search radar and a MAD (Magnetic Anomaly Detection) telescoping boom or “stinger” in the tail (Grumman in-house design no. G-251 for Norway but G-315 for Chile; Job no. 848-003, Project no. 03CT, i.e. the 3rd such aircraft for Chile) and which was eventually re-designated as an SHU-16B. As such, it is legitimately listed here under Section II.
“51-7195A” is obviously really just ex-USAF serial no. 51-7195 that has been administratively altered by the FAA because of some technical detail related to its reissuance for some reason. USAF serial no. 51-7195 was built by Grumman as a short-wing model SA-16A (OEM serial no. G-258) that was subsequently converted / upgraded to a long-wing configuration for the USAF (Grumman design no. G-111, Project no. 85B – meaning the 85th such conversion for the USAF.) As such, it is legitimately listed here under Section II.
“86B” is actually a secondary serial or “project” number assigned by Grumman to OEM serial no. G-219, which was built originally for the US Air Force as a short-wing model SA-16A (USAF serial no. 51-7169) and which was later converted / upgraded to a long-wing configuration (Grumman design no. G-111, Project no. 86B which indicates that it was the 86th such conversion for the USAF.) As such, it is legitimately listed here under Section II. It was registered up until Aug. 6, 2009 as N123RK (before which it was registered as N113LA) but was apparently scrapped due to damage incurred during one of the hurricanes that hit Florida in 2004.
“99-7213” is obviously really just ex-USAF serial no. 51-7213 which may have been administratively altered by the US Air Force probably because of its age or status prior to removal from service and final disposition. USAF serial no. 51-7213 was built by Grumman as a short-wing model SA-16A (OEM serial no. G-288) that was subsequently transferred to the US Coast Guard as a model UF-1G (USCG serial 7213) before being converted to a long-wing configuration for the USCG (Grumman in-house design no. G-288, Job no. 809, Project no. 74C which indicates that it was the 74th such conversion for the USCG.) As such, it really should be listed under TC A33SO Section V as a model HU-16E.
“2132” most likely corresponds to ex-USCG serial number 2132 which was Grumman OEM serial number G-359 and which was built for the USAF as a short-wing model SA-16A (USAF serial no. 52-132.) This aircraft was transferred to the USCG as a model UF-1G prior to its long-wing conversion as Grumman design no. G-234, Job no. 728, Project no. 24C – meaning that it was the 24th such conversion for the US Coast Guard. As such, it became a model UF-2G and was subsequently re-designated as an HU-16E in 1962 – and it should be listed in TC A33SO under Section V. Even though it is currently registered with the FAA as N226GR, model HU-16E s/n 2132, it is currently painted up to represent a very colorful example of a USAF model HU-16B.
“146427” is obviously another ex-US Navy Bureau of Aeronautics serial or “Bu.” number and it corresponds to Grumman OEM serial no. G-445. This design no. G-191 aircraft was one of the few Albatross aircraft that were built from “scratch” as a long-wing variant; in this case, as a model UF-2, serial no. 146427, for the West German Bundesmarine or Federal Navy. It was later further upgraded by Grumman and then sold to the Indonesian Navy. After being declared surplus, it was first registered as a civilian aircraft in Indonesia as PK-VAB and then it was sold to a private owner in the US and registered as N10GN. It currently belongs to a museum in Chino, CA, but as a model UF-2 (aka HU-16D) it should be listed under TC A33SO Section IV.
Last edited by
Rajay on Mon Jun 24, 2013 10:08 pm, edited 2 times in total.