Grumman Goose
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| G-21 Goose | |
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| Type | Amphibious transport |
| Manufacturer | Grumman |
| Maiden flight | 1937 |
| Primary users | United States Navy Royal Air Force US Army Air Force Royal Canadian Air Force |
| Number built | 345 |
| Variants | Grumman Widgeon |
The Grumman G-21 Goose amphibious flying boat was designed as a ten-seat "commuter" plane for businessmen in the Long Island area. The Goose was Grumman’s first monoplane to fly, its first twin-engined aircraft and its first aircraft to enter commercial airline service. During World War II, the Goose became an effective transport for the US military and Coast Guard, as well as serving with many other air forces. During hostilities, the Goose took on an increasing number of combat and training roles. In postwar use, the adaptable little transport continued in use.
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[edit] Design and development
In 1937, the Grumman Model G-21 was designed as a light amphibian transport. The typical Grumman rugged construction was matched to an all-metal, high-winged monoplane powered by two 450-horsepower Pratt and Whitney Wasp Jr. nine-cylinder, air-cooled radial engines mounted on the leading edge of high-set wings. The deep fuselage served also as a hull and was equipped with hand-cranked retractable landing gear. The fuselage also proved versatile as it provided generous interior space that allowed fitting for either a transport or luxury airliner role. Having an amphibious configuration also allowed the G-21 to go just about anywhere, and elaborate plans were made to market it as an amphibian airliner.[1] Some of them had a hatch in the nose which could be left open while flying. It was quite a thrill to stand in it when landing or taking off from the water!
[edit] Operational history
Envisioned as corporate or private "flying yachts" for Manhattan millionaires, initial production models normally carried two to three passengers and had a bar and small toilet installed. As well as being marketed to small air carriers, the G-21 was also promoted as a military transport. In 1938, the US Army Air Force purchased the type as the OA-9 (later, in the war years, examples bought from civilian owners were designated the OA-13A) the US Navy variants were designated the JRF.
The amphibian was soon adopted by the Coast Guard and, during World War II, it also served with the RCAF in the transport, reconnaissance, rescue and training roles, and used for air-sea rescue duties by the RAF. The RAF, in a common naming convention with all of its aircraft, designated it "Goose".
On returning to civilian service, after the war, the Goose found use from the wilderness of Alaska to the sunny climes of Catalina.
A total of 345 were built, with about 60 still airworthy today, some of them in modified forms, such as the Turbo-Goose (see below).
[edit] Modifications
There were a number of modifications of the Goose, but the most numerous were those by McKinnon Enterprises, who made three different conversions. The first involved replacing the Goose's engines with two Lycoming GSO-480 piston engines. The second, named Turboprop Goose involved replacing the engines with two Pratt & Whitney PT6A turboprops. The third and final variant was the Turbo-Goose, which was based on the "Turboprop Goose" described above, but with larger windows, and retractable floats on the wings.
[edit] Operators
[edit] Military operators
- United States Army Air Corps
- United States Army Air Force
- United States Navy
- United States Coast Guard
[edit] Governmental operators
- United States Fish and Wildlife Service operated two aircraft.
[edit] Civil operators
- Asiatic Petroleum
- British Guiana Airways
- Air BC
- Almon Landair Ltd
- European Coastal Airways
- H.J. O'Connell Supplies
- Oakley Air Ltd Canada
- Pacific Coastal Airlines
- Sioux Narrows Airways
- West Coast Air Sevices
- Yaukuve Resort
- Aero Accessories Inc.
- Air Metal Fabricators
- Alaska Coastal Airlines
- Alaska Coastal-Ellis Airlines
- Alaska Fish and Game
- Amphib. Inc.
- Antilles Airboats
- Avalon Air Transport
- Baron Aviation
- Caribbean Clipper
- Catalina Air
- Catalina Channel Airlines
- Devcon Construction
- Flight Data Inc.
- Ford Motors
- Goose Aviation
- Gulf Oil
- Kodiak Airways
- Kodiak Western
- North Coast Aero
- Ozark Management
- PenAir
- SouthEast Skyways
- Superior Oil
- Teufel Nursuries
- Tuthill Corporation
- Virgin Islands Seaplane Shuttle
- Waterlines Ltd
- Webber Airlines
[edit] Specifications (JRF Goose)
General characteristics
- Crew: two
- Length: 38 ft 4 in (11.7 m)
- Wingspan: 49 ft (14.9 m)
- Height: 12 ft (3.7 m)
- Wing area: 375 ft² (34.8 m²)
- Empty weight: 5,571 lb (2,527 kg)
- Loaded weight: 7,200 lb (3,273 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 8,200 lb (3,720 kg)
- Powerplant: 2× Pratt & Whitney Wasp Junior SB-2 air-cooled radials, 450 hp (340 kW) each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 184 mph (296 km/h)
- Range: 1,050 mi (1,690 km)
- Service ceiling 21,000 ft (6,400 m)
- Rate of climb: 1,240 ft/min (380 m/min)
- Wing loading: 21.9 lb/ft² (106.9 kg/m²)
- Power/mass: 0.11 hp/lb (0.18 kW/kg)
Armament
- 2 x .50-cal machine guns
- 2 x 250-lb depth charges
[edit] Popular culture
- In Jimmy Buffett's first novel, Where is Joe Merchant?, protagonist Frank Bama owned and operated a rebuilt Grumman Goose dubbed the Hemisphere Dancer. (The actual Hemisphere Dancer is a Grumman Albatross that belongs to Buffett and is now the centerpiece for his Margaritaville Cafe restaurant in Orlando, FL).
- A Goose named "Cutter's Goose" is prominent on the 1980s series, "Tales of the Gold Monkey," a TV series starring Stephen Collins, inspired by the movie Only Angels Have Wings.
[edit] See also
Related development
Related lists
[edit] References
[edit] Notes
- ^ Truelson 1976
[edit] Bibliography
- Thruelsen, Richard. The Grumman Story. New York: Praeger Publishers, Inc., 1976. ISBN 0-275-54260-2.
- Winchester, Jim, ed. "Grumman Goose/Mallard." Biplanes, Triplanes and Seaplanes (The Aviation Factfile). Rochester, Kent, UK: Grange Books plc, 2004. ISBN 1-84013-641-3.
[edit] External links
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