In June 2024, BuffettNews.com reported that Jimmy Buffett’s iconic Grumman HU-16 Albatross, famously known as the Hemisphere Dancer, was temporarily removed from Universal CityWalk Orlando for refurbishment. The aircraft was sent to Big Sky Aviation, a family-owned maintenance company in West Palm Beach, Florida, operated by Wayne and Laurelle, to receive expert care and restoration.
Buffett’s love of flying began in college and evolved over decades, culminating in his private pilot certification just before his 40th birthday. At the time of his death, he held a Commercial Pilot License with multiple ratings, including instrument and type ratings for both jets and amphibious aircraft. His fleet includes several notable aircraft, among them the Hemisphere Dancer and a 1939 Grumman Goose seaplane. Over the years, Buffett has occasionally flown his planes over concert venues and has had a few close calls, including a 1994 water accident and a 1996 incident in Jamaica that inspired his song Jamaica Mistaica. In recognition of his impact on aviation, Palm Beach International Airport even named the BUFIT ONE Departure procedure after him in 2009.
The Hemisphere Dancer itself has a remarkable history. Built in 1955 as a Grumman HU-16 Albatross (BuNo 137928), it was designed as a large amphibious aircraft for search-and-rescue (SAR) operations. Its V-shaped hull allowed it to operate from both runways and open ocean, taking off in seas up to four feet and using JATO rockets for higher waves. The aircraft served extensively with the U.S. Navy, stationed in Okinawa, Japan, and Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands, and even participated in nuclear testing during Operation Redwing in 1956. Throughout its career, the Albatross flew a variety of missions beyond SAR, including observation flights during atomic tests, humanitarian efforts like restocking green turtle nesting sites across the Caribbean, and numerous training and rescue operations. Crews contended with extreme engine noise, challenging water takeoffs and landings, and corrosion from saltwater exposure, underscoring the aircraft’s durability and versatility. After accumulating 2,689 flight hours, it was retired in 1967 and eventually acquired by Buffett in 1995. Repainted and renamed the Hemisphere Dancer, the aircraft became a signature part of Buffett’s fleet and survived the 1996 Jamaican gunfire incident that inspired Jamaica Mistaica.
On July 14, 2024, as reported by BuffettNews.com, Jimmy Buffett’s daughter, Savannah, officially welcomed the Hemisphere Dancer back to Margaritaville Orlando, marking the return of a true aviation icon with a storied past in both military service and popular culture.
