Our Aircraft: Specs, Purpose and History

External Dimensions
Wing Span ....80'
Length.........60'8"
Height..........24'3"
Prop land clearance.....8'0"
Prop water clearance...3'11"
Draft (wheels up).............3'3"
Draft (wheels down).........5'1"
Beam ...............................7'11"

Internal Dimensions
Cabin Length............26'1"
Cabin Height..............6'4"
Cabin width (max)......7'5"
Cabin floor area..........145 sq feet

Gross Weights:
Design ...........29500 lb
Empty..............20815 lb

Speed at Sea Level:
Normal Cruise ........................150 kt
Max Endurance.......................117 kt
Stall (Landing Configuration) ...74 kt

Performance (29500 lb):
Ground Run @ Sea Level..................1330 ft
Take-off distance over 50ft obstacle...2900 ft
Water run @ Sea Level......................1600 ft
Rate of Climb......................................1200 ft/min
Service Ceiling..................................23 000 ft
Cruising speed @10 000 ft 60% power 143 kt

Uses:
Its use will be primarily for shareholder’s adventures, pleasure, and cargo transport and not available for third party charter activities.

The company specifically makes no undertakings with respect to the suitability of the aircraft for charter as it is registered in the restricted category of aircraft, including cargo. Income generating activities such as film shoots, cargo carriage, war-bird exempted flips, sponsor activities and advanced pilot training can be undertaken.

Aircraft Piloting:
The aircraft is a 2-pilot operation and needs 2 qualified pilots to fly her at all times unless one of the pilots is undergoing training by an FAA certified instructor. Qualified shareholders will be able to pilot the aircraft.

The aircraft is currently being prepared for a ferry flight to Tamiami Airport anticipated for JUNE 2026.
All systems have been brought to flying status following successful engine and hydraulic runs in March.
Final systems checks will be performed throughout April and May leading up to the issue of the ferry permit.
On arrival at Tamiami final airworthiness inspection will be done to return her to full flight status.
She will join “Wings Over Miami” Museum as a flying exhibit as her restoration continues.

A New Vision: Adventures Albatross (2008)
In July 2008, the airport authorities put her out to auction through eBay. A South African visionary (read madman!) won the auction for her sight unseen in a moment of insanity when left unsupervised on a laptop in Cape Town.
She was subsequently registered into Adventures Albatross Inc, a newly founded company for the purpose, dedicated solely to the ownership and operation of this historic amphibious aircraft.

Our organization’s stated mission is very explicit:
“The ownership, restoration and maximum utilization of a historic 1955 Grumman Albatross N7927 amphibious Search and Rescue flying boat…”

Central to this new phase of her life has been the remarkable and unwavering support of a small band of very dedicated men and women. Their selfless actions and continued incredible work through a multitude of massive financial and personal setbacks has made the light at the end of a long, costly tunnel stay on.
Without them and the financial and emotional support of all my children this project would have come unstuck a long time ago!
At times the light in the tunnel became very dim indeed….

At the forefront of maintenance is Richard Osborne - a man that is as much of a legend in aviation circles as the Albatross itself. His tenacity to see this aircraft airworthy has been a humbling inspiration and nothing short of heroic. Amongst many other accomplishments and accolades he flew in the Vietnam war where the Albatross was active at the time and as recently as 2019 he led a formation of DC 3 aircraft in a D-Day celebration to the United Kingdom and Europe.
Richard has been supported tirelessly by Alex Gonzalez who has been mentored by Richard and obtained certification on the Albatross and her engines and components. More about their adventures and stalwart work in the articles and blogs!

Unlike many restorations aimed at static museum display, Adventures Albatross has committed to getting and keeping N7927 operational. A mission statement that, in the harsh unfolding and changing world we live in, has proved harder to achieve than anyone would have thought (except of course the naysayers!)

Returning to Airworthy: The long adventurous rollercoaster of reality (2008-?)
Following the 2008 acquisition, N7927 was drained of water and made temporarily flight ready for a single ferry flight to Fort Pierce where she underwent significant structural and systems restoration on the hopeful path to becoming flight operational.
The company emphasis is on operational integrity first rather than cosmetic preservation which will follow in due course once she is airborne!

Many surviving Albatross aircraft now rest permanently on museum ramps. N7927 is different representing a successful recovery from derelict condition and a commitment to flight readiness. She is destined for continued airworthiness and preservation through active use by shareholders, not just static display

From Search and Rescue Warrior to Flying Classic: The Remarkable Lives of Grumman Albatross N7927
Few aircraft embody rugged reliability and maritime heroism like the Grumman HU‑16 Albatross. Designed to pluck airmen and sailors from hostile seas and to land where few aircraft dare, the Albatross earned its legendary reputation and the ultimate title of the “GOAT”.
Of the 466 built, one particular survivor—Grumman Albatross N7927—has lived multiple lives: naval rescue aircraft, abandoned derelict, much loved frontrunner of Albatross restorations, abandoned again, sold at auction, hit by 2 hurricanes and now is ultimately edging its way back to the skies and seas again to become a flying classic accessible to many enthusiasts, adventurers and pilots through a carefully crafted shareholding structure.
This is (some of) the story of how N7927 came back from desolation and the brink of destruction again and again to return to the skies after 70 years of deep lived experiences…

Born for the Sea: Naval Service Begins (1955)
The aircraft now known as N7927 was the 400th Albatross built by Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation (known as the Ironworks) in 1955, during the height of U.S. Navy and Coast Guard demand for long‑range amphibious rescue aircraft. Delivered to the U.S. Navy on 22 August 1955 as Bureau Number 137927, this aircraft was part of an eventual 466 strong fleet tasked with one of aviation’s most dangerous missions – that of rescuing survivors by landing in the open seas.

The deep‑V hull design and high‑mounted radial engines combined with the ability to operate from land, snow, ice and open oceans make it uniquely suited to rescuing downed aircrew and survivors in rough seas—often under combat conditions. While we haven’t analysed the specific missions flown by N7927 her service life fits squarely within the Albatross’s most active operational era.
The full historical service and flight records rest safely with the current owners and will in time be scrutinised and shared by us!

The Long Silence: Military Storage (1970-1995)
In September 1970, the aircraft’s military service ended. It was transferred to the Military Aircraft Storage and Disposition Center (The Boneyard!) joining hundreds of retired aircraft awaiting disposal or reassignment.

The aircraft lay in the boneyard for one and a half decades slowly becoming one with the desert as the wind and sun gradually tore away at her once proud bodywork and reduced her day by day to a skeleton. By the time well known aviation enthusiast Dennis Buehn acquired the aircraft in 1985, it was in derelict condition and its future as a flying aircraft was uncertain to say the least.

Resurrection: Restored to Airworthy Condition (1995)
The subsequent removal of the aircraft from the boneyard and restoration to full flight is a story all of its own and she became the very first Albatross to be entered onto the civilian register and returned to full flying status.

What followed was a critical turning point. According to the Warbird Registry our aircraft was subsequently restored to airworthy condition and re‑registered as N7927.
The brave and expensive job of restoring her to flight and the significance of this achievement cannot be overstated.

The fact that N7927 emerged from this phase capable of flight places her amongst a very small number of surviving, operational Grumman Albatross aircraft worldwide.

In her new life with Dennis she was a glorious front runner – an example to others about what these forgotten aircraft were capable of. An incentive to others to pull additional rotting Albatrosses from the so-called boneyards and restore them to incredible flight. This was a remarkable movement that saw several other Albatross shed their decades of decaying sadness and take to the skies as airshow masterpieces and private adventure flying yachts. 

N7927 changed hands and was repainted into a blue, white and yellow civilian paint scheme.
The early 2000’s saw the collapse of the dotcom era and sadly for N7297 by 2008 through circumstances unknown came to be neglected and abandoned at Opa Locka Airport in Florida.
She gradually filled with water and sat forlornly as her main keel corroded away and she became a problem for the airport authorities.