Inspired by the performance of the Grumman Goose during WWII, the U.S. Navy solicited Grumman to design a larger amphibian with longer range. In 1944, Grumman won approval of its design G-64, to be named "Albatross," with accommodation for a crew of four, and a cabin capacity of 10 passengers, stretchers, or 5,000 pounds of cargo, as circumstances dictated. In addition, there were pylons under the wing and outboard of the engines which made it possible to carry weapons or drop tanks for increased range. In addition, fuel could be carried in the fixed under-wing floats.

Too late for service in World War II, the Albatross was used extensively in the Korean and Vietnam wars. Experience with the UF-1 led to a number of modifications, such as more effective de-icing boots for the leading edges of airfoils, increased wing span, redesign of the leading edge to increase lift, and an increase in the area of the ailerons and tail surfaces. The revised model, introduced in 1955, was called UF-2.

An anti-submarine version, the SHU-16B, was introduced in 1961, redesigned to carry a few small depth charges. It was also equipped with a nose radome, retractable MAD gear, ECM radome and searchlight to enable it to find targets for those weapons.

The final official Grumman classification was G-111, devised in the 1970s as the result of a collaborative effort between the manufacturer and Resorts International to convert the military aircraft to an airliner. Of the 57 surplus aircraft purchased for rehabbing, 12 were completed and placed in storage by Chalk Airlines of Miami, where they remain. Despite that disappointing outcome, by 1997 there were 92 Albatrosses on the US civil registry, of which 30 were still flying as island-hopping airliners, or as customized executive aircraft. Thus, the Grumman HU-16 "Albatross" continues to fulfill the people-hauling part of the role that it was intended for when it first entered military service with the United States Air Force, Navy and Coast Guard, eventually serving 22 foreign governments as well.

The use of seaplanes is nothing new for the Quiksilver Crossing, which has utilised seaplanes for both transport and scouting missions throughout the Pacific and Indian Oceans during its five years at sea. However, this latest addition of a Grumman HU-16A "Albatross" was made for the Quiksilver Crossing's September/October 2004 mission in North American waters and the necessary safety aspects involved with the area's recent history of violent weather. This trip was a milestone for the Crossing and for surf exploration at large. It was the first time a Grumman HU-16B "Albatross" had ever been used for serious surf exploration. It also marked the furthest that the Quiksilver Crossing has conducted surf exploration from the equator since its March 1999 launch.

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