Grumman Goose

infobox Aircraft
name = G-21 Goose
type = Amphibious transport
manufacturer = Grumman

---

caption =
designer =
first flight =1937
introduced =
retired =
produced =
number built = 345
status =
unit cost =
primary user = United States Navy
more users = United States Army Air Forces Royal Air Force Royal Canadian Air Force
developed from =
variants with their own articles = 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.

Design and development

In 1936, a group of wealthy residents of Long Island, including E. Roland Harriman, approached Grumman and commissioned an aircraft that they could use to fly to New York City. [ [http://www.antillesseaplanes.com/history.htm Antilles Seaplanes Goose history page.] Retrieved: 30 August 2008.] In response 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 & Whitney R-985 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. First flight of the prototype took place on 29 May 1937. [http://aerofiles.com/_grum.html Aerofiles.com Grumman page.] Retrieved: 30 August 2008.]

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 plans were made to market it as an amphibian airliner. [ Truelson 1976] Some had a hatch in the nose, which could remain open in flight.

Modifications

There were a number of modifications of the Goose, but the most numerous were those by McKinnon Enterprises, who made three different conversions.Fact|date=September 2008 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 Canada PT6A turboprops. The third and final variant was the "Turbo-Goose", which was based on the"Turboprop Goose", but with larger windows, and retractable floats on the wings.

New production

In November 2007 Antilles Seaplanes of North Carolina announced it was restarting production of the Goose. PWC PT6A-34 turboprops will replace the original Pratt & Whitney piston engines, [ [http://www.antillesseaplanes.com/specs.htm Super Goose specifications page.] Retrieved: 30 August 2008.] and the airframe and systems will be updated, increasing the seating capacity from eight to ten; the aircraft will be known as the Antilles Super Goose. The first example is now being assembled. [http://www.antillesseaplanes.com/news.htm Antilles Seaplanes News page.] Retrieved 30 August 2008.] [ [http://www.antillesseaplanes.com/about.htm Antilles Seaplanes page announcing commencement of construction.] Retrieved: 30 August 2008.]

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 United States 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.

Operators

Military operators

;ARG;BOL;BRA;flag|Canada|1921
*Royal Canadian Air Force;CUB;FRA;JPN;PAR;PER
*Peruvian Air Force;POR;SWE;UK
*Royal Air Force;flag|United States|1912
*United States Army Air Corps
*United States Army Air Force
*United States Navy
*United States Coast Guard

Governmental operators

;flag|United States|1912
*United States Fish and Wildlife Service operated two aircraft.

Civil operators

;AUS
*Asiatic Petroleum;British Guiana
*British Guiana Airways;CAN
*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;flag|Dutch East Indies
*"Koninklijke Nederlandsch-Indische Luchtvaart Maatschappij";FIJ
*Yaukuve Resort;ISL
*"Loftleiðir";NOR;flag|United States|1912
*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

pecifications (JRF Goose)

aircraft specifications
plane or copter?=plane
jet or prop?=prop
ref=

crew= two
capacity=
length main= 38 ft 4 in
length alt= 11.7 m
span main= 49 ft
span alt= 14.9 m
height main= 12 ft
height alt= 3.7 m
area main= 375 ft²
area alt= 34.8 m²
airfoil=
empty weight main= 5,571 lb
empty weight alt= 2,527 kg
loaded weight main= 7,200 lb
loaded weight alt= 3,273 kg
useful load main=
useful load alt=
max takeoff weight main= 8,200 lb
max takeoff weight alt= 3,720 kg
more general=
engine (jet)=
type of jet=
number of jets=
thrust main=
thrust alt=
thrust original=
afterburning thrust main=
afterburning thrust alt=
engine (prop)= Pratt & Whitney Wasp Junior SB-2
type of prop= air-cooled radials
number of props= 2
power main= 450 hp
power alt= 340 kW
power original=
max speed main= 184 mph
max speed alt= 296 km/h
cruise speed main=
cruise speed alt=
never exceed speed main=
never exceed speed alt=
stall speed main=
stall speed alt=
range main= 1,050 mi
range alt= 1,690 km
ceiling main= 21,000 ft
ceiling alt= 6,400 m
climb rate main= 1,240 ft/min
climb rate alt= 380 m/min
loading main= 21.9 lb/ft²
loading alt= 106.9 kg/m²
thrust/weight=
power/mass main= 0.11 hp/lb
power/mass alt= 0.18 kW/kg
more performance=
armament=
* 2 x .50-cal machine guns
* 2 x 250-lb depth charges
avionics=

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".
*A Goose plays central part in Larry Nivens novel Dream Park.

ee also

aircontent
related=
*Grumman Widgeon
similar aircraft=
lists=
*List of seaplanes and flying boats
see also=

References

Notes

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.

External links

* [http://www.grummangoose.com/main.html grummangoose.com] (inactive link; homepage only - 28 September 2008)
* [http://www.nasm.si.edu/research/aero/aircraft/grumman_goose.htm Grumman Goose at the Smithsonian]
* [http://www.geocities.com/alaskangoose/ Information and listing of many Geese]
* [http://www.otgadventures.com/video_of_flying_to_akutan.htm Video of goose flight from cockpit, Dutch Harbor to Akutan, AK]
* [http://www.antillesseaplanes.com/ Antilles Seaplanes - Home of the G-21G Super Goose]