Hobbies And Interests
Dimensions and Capacity
Without passengers, pilots or cargo the Grumman Goose weighs 5,423 lb. It has a payload of 2,000 lb. The G-21 can take off smoothly weighing up to 8,000 lb. With a wing area measuring 378 square feet, the Goose has a wing span of 49 feet. The amphibious utility plane measures 38.4 feet long and 12 feet in height.
Engine and Performance
Two radial engines powered the G-21 Goose as it soared through the sky. The Pratt &Whitney R-985 engines could each generate a maximum of 456 horsepower. The plane's service ceiling, which is the highest altitude that an aircraft can reach, is 21,300 feet. With a full fuel load, the aircraft can travel up to 695 miles. When cruising, the Grumman Goose travels at 160 mph, though this increases to 201 mph when the G-21 flies at its top speed.
Other Specifications
Two crew members were needed to fly the Grumman airplane. Up to seven passengers were accommodated. When used for combat, the G-21 was fitted with two .50-caliber machine guns. It also possessed two 250-lb. depth charges, an anti-submarine weapon.
History
The Goose was designed by Roy Grumman as a means for businessmen to travel from Long Island to Wall Street, with the idea being that they could take off from an airstrip and then land in water near Manhattan. However, when World War II came, the planes were used by the military for transport and in combat situations. While only 10 planes were initially commissioned, by the end of the war 345 had taken to the sky. The number of these aircraft dwindled over time due to the lack of replacement parts. However, in 2007, Antilles Seaplanes announced that it would launch a new version of the Grumman Goose, calling it the Antilles G-21.