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| Grumman G-21 Amphibian Goose The Grumman G-21 Amphibian Goose is a light amphibian transport plane, originally made by Grumman in 1937. During that historic year initial flights began on May 29th. The Grumman Goose was originally designed to fulfill a most unique role. The Goose was thought to be the perfect method of transport for Manhattan millionaires to fly to Miami. The potential of the Goose was soon recognized to be beyond that of a weekend luxury flyer, and rapidly it became the utility plane of choice for several air services. Because of its amphibious nature, generous interior space, and rugged construction which enabled the Goose to go just about anywhere it was adopted by the Coast Guard as a rescue plane. Only 345 of these legendary planes were constructed. The factory engines on the Goose were the Pratt & Whitney 450 horsepower radial "Wasp Jr's". With time, a wide variety of others replaced these. The radial engines are not as fuel efficient as some other types, but are acclaimed for their simplicity and durability. The engines on a Goose have been known to ingest water, ice, and smoke without failing to produce takeoff power. Some Geese have two-blade propellers, and others have three-blade propellers. The two-blade versions were generally civilian planes, while the three-blade versions were more commonly designed for the military. The Pacific Coastal Geese are equipped with mighty radial engines and 3 bladed propellers. The high mounted wings keep the engines out of the water and spray during amphibious maneuvers. To compensate for this unusual placement, and to minimize the cabling necessary to operate the engines and flaps, the throttle and several other key controls are mounted on the ceiling of the cockpit. The pilot sits on the left, operating the yoke with the left hand, the throttle and flaps with the right hand, and the rudder with his or her feet. The pilot side windows can be opened for better visibility and to pass tie down ropes to awaiting dock attendants at our destinations. The Goose is not equipped with a water rudder so our featured pilots demonstrate a handful of unique techniques while maneuvering on the water. The most incredible thing about the Goose is the amount of interior size it has. The aircraft was designed with luxury in mind. Generous allowances were made for various amenities such as an onboard bar and closet / toilet in the 39 foot long cabin. The Goose boasts a seating capacity for eight people including the pilot during commuter roles. Ideally, one pilot and two or three passengers were seated in the Goose during its earlier corporate missions. The hull design of the Goose has many innovative design characteristics. These and many other aerodynamic features are noted in our “Real Life Aviator Video Series” production during the preflight inspection of the Goose. These days the only Geese in active use are to be found in the Caribbean or in Canada, Alaska, and the Pacific Northwest, where amphibious planes are still the most convenient way to get around. Pacific Coastal Airlines hosts three of these wondrous aircraft which are commercially flown year round. Take Flight Video Productions is proud to present the Grumman Goose, her talented pilots and the communities it serves from Port Hardy, British Columbia. THE GRUMMAN "G-21" AMPHIBIAN
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Visit the Pacific Coastal Airlines page to learn more about our new DVD featuring the Grumman Goose
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All Contents Copyright 2003 - Take Flight Video Productions - The Makers of The Real Life Aviator Video Series |