Grumman G-64/111 Albatross
- CountryUnited States of America
- TypeAmphibious airliner and light utility transport
- PowerplantsG-111 - Two 1100kW (1475hp) Wright R-1820-982C9HE3 radial piston engines driving three blade constant speed propellers.
- PerformanceG-111 - Max speed 380km/h (205kt), max cruising speed 362km/h (195kt), long range cruising speed 200km/h (108kt). Initial rate of climb (with METO power) 1250ft/min. Range with 28 passengers and reserves 750km (405nm) from water or 505km (273nm) from land, max ferry range with no reserves 2740km (1480nm).
- WeightsG-111 - Operating empty 10,660kg (23,500lb), max takeoff from land 13,880kg (30,605lb), max takeoff from water 14,225kg (31,365lb).
- DimentionsG-111 - Wing span 29.46m (96ft 8in), length 18.67m (61ft 3in), height 7.87m (25ft 10in). Wing area 96.2m2 (1035sq ft).
- CapacityFlightcrew of two. G-111 civil conversion seats 28 passengers in main cabin at 81cm (32in) pitch.
- ProductionProduction for military customers of 418, built between 1947 and 1961. Grumman purchased 57 ex military Albatrosses for conversion to civil G-111 configuration in the early 1980s, but only 13 were converted. Other ex USN Albatrosses fly in private hands.
The Albatross is effectively the biggest of Grumman's arrangement of utility creatures of land and water, and was the one and only initially created particularly for military administration.
The Albatross came about because of a late 1940s US Navy prerequisite for an universally useful land and/or water capable transport. The main Albatross model flew shockingly on October 24 1947, with more than 400 generation HU-16s in this manner conveyed to the US Navy, US Coast Guard and 12 different countries. Military Albatross missions included general surveillance, oceanic watch, against submarine fighting (in which part it could be equipped with torpedoes and profundity charges) and inquiry and salvage.
In the late 1970s, Grumman and significant US flying vessel administrator Resorts International started deal with a system to change over the Albatross for common aerial shuttle administration. The transformation consolidated various progressions to the fundamental Albatross, including a 28 seat traveler inner part, a cookroom and procurement for a flight orderly, overhauled flying and other enhanced frameworks. The airframes were additionally stripped down, investigated, segments were supplanted or repaired, and the entire airframe was zero timed. Military gear was uprooted and the motors were stripped down and remade. The principal such G-111 Albatross change flew shockingly on February 13 1979 and US FAA certificate was recompensed in April 1980.
Grumman obtained 57 Albatrosses for change and predicted a potential business sector for up to 200 adjusted creatures of land and water, however this expectation demonstrated to a degree hopeful. In all just 13 flying machine were changed over, 12 for Resorts International, and 1 for Conoco Oil/Pelita which worked from Singapore. A few of these are still dynamic, together with ex military illustrations.
A more created variant fueled by Garrett TPE-331 turboprops and a firebomber were additionally contemplated yet not created. Later in 1986 Frakes International proposed reengining Albatrosses with Pratt & Whitney Canada Pt6a or PW-120 turboprops, yet this arrangement additionally was not sought after. Then again, a few Albatrosses have been changed over to turbine power.
Pictures of Grumman G-64/111 Albatross
