Copyright 2002 by Brandon Cope

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Grumman Goose (G-21A/OA-9/OA-13A/JRF)

The Grumman Goose is one of the most famous amphibians ever built, despite production lasting less than ten years and only 376 being built. The Goose was originally designed in the mid 1930's as a shuttle for wealthy businessmen to travel between New York and Miami and entered production in 1937. The plane quickly caught on and was used for other duties, such as a Coast Guard rescue plane and utility aircraft for several small companies. Civilian models normally carried 2-3 passengers and had a bar and small toilet installed.

In 1938, the U.S. military took an intrest in the Goose. Those used by the Army Air Force were initially designated OA-9 (built for the Army) or OA-13A (purchased from civilian owners), but reclassified G-21A when the "O" designation was done away with. Those with the Navy were designated JRF. Around 50-80 were eventually passed on to the Royal Navy and returned after the war. The planes were used for general transport, search and rescue, anti-submarine warfare and many other duties. After the war, most were bought by civilians and used as passenger aircraft in the Carribean and U.S. northwest. A large percentage have had their engines replaced by more powerful turboprops and modern avionics installed.

The Grumman Goose has made several appearances in pop culture, some set in the WWII era. It was featured in the short-lived 1982 TV series Tales of the Gold Monkey and several Louis L'Amour pulp stories about a mercenary named Turk Madden (his Goose was, somehow, rigged with eight machineguns!).

The Goose uses 30.2 gallons of fuel per hour. Weight does not include two 250 depth charges; if depth charges are carried, passengers are reduced to three.

Subassemblies: Light Fighter Bomber chassis with Good streamlining +2, Light Fighter Bomber Wings with  STOL option +2, two Large Weapon pods 1&2 +2, two Medium Weapon pods 3&4 +2, three retractable wheels +0
P&P: two 336-kW aerial HP gasoline engine w/ two 336-kW prop [Pod 1&2:F) with 220-gallon tanks [Body and Wing]; 8000-kWs batteries
Occ: 2 CS, 6 PS    Cargo:  4.5 Body,  1 Wings, 1.5 each Pod

Armor
All: 2/3

Equipment
Body: long range radio transmitter and receiver, autopilot, navigational instruments. Wings: 250-lb hardpoint under each

Statistics

HT: 9
HP: 165 [body], 80 [each wing]
 

Design Notes
Design aSpeed was 209 mph. Historical wing surface area was 375 sf. The cost, weight and HPs of the wings were divided by two to better match historical weight. Some Geese lacked the landing gear.

With full fuel and passengers, the Goose requires a 10 mph headwind. With full fuel, no passengers and two depth charges, it requires an 8 mph headwind. With half fuel and no passengers, it requires a 5 mph headwind.

Variants
G-44 Widgeon: This was a smaller (and, hence, cheaper) version of the Goose. Although of similar appearance, it was a different plane. It was the OA-14 in the Army and the J4F in the Navy. In mid 1942, a Widgeon was responsible the first U-boat sunk by the Coast Guard. The G-44 carried only three passengers or one 325-lb depth charge. Maximum weight was 2.25 tons and top speed was 153 mph. However, range was 50% greater than the Goose.