Built for the USAF as SA-16B 51-7163 in 1952. Redesignated as an HU-16B in 1962. To civil registry as N70725 in 1977. Stored at Visalia after a forced landing there earlier in 1987. To the Castle Air Museum in 1988.

STTC - Sheppard Technical Training Center

While in service with the USAF, this Albatross was loaned to Pan Am in 1969. It operated a weekly service as PA163 from Mombasa, Kenya to a satellite tracking station at Mahe, Seychelles, on a joint contract with the Philco Radio Corp. and the US government. It flew in bare metal as "0-17163", with a Pan Am logo on the nose. It was withdrawn from use on 3 Nov 1971, and stored at Long Beach, CA. It became N70725 in Sep 1977, and in 1987 it was restored to flying condition and flown to the Castle Air Museum, where it was restored in the markings seen here. The Albatross was first noted on display as such in Nov 1988.