When I flew the HU-16 in the Coast Guard it was affectionately known as a "Goat". Most of them were in the bone yard at Tucson by '75-'76 and could be bought for around $20,000 according to some fellow I meet at a Lake Mead splash-in in '88. They have a very stiff wing which makes for a rough ride
. The landing gear had about 6 joints with hydraulic cylinders on each one and extended/retracted slowly and unevenly and you always got it down early so the flight mechanic could check all the locks. On search missions there was enough fuel for more than 9 hours plus IFR reserves, which equaled leave before sun up and return after sun down in the winter on search missions.