The Grumman Goose in Profile

Mention the name Goose, and you can hear the roar of the twin R-985's echoing off a small lake of the Pacific Northwest transporting cargo and passengers to remote locations. For a plane primarily meant for the U.S. Navy, almost all ended up in the civilian market. Grumman built 345 of the Goose (never said as "Geese") from 1939 to 1945. Having a reputation for being a strong airframe, many are still flying today in private hands and with commercial carriers. Most airframes were modified with three blade props and retractable floats. Below are eleven examples of the Goose's history. If you are interested in modeling any of these schemes, DRAW Decals will have all of these by the end of the year. The sheets are printed in 1/72 scale for the Sword kit. Coming in early 2004, these will be in 1/48 for the CM Goose kit.

V-176
JFR-2, sn 1065
U.S. Coast Guard, Air Station Port Angeles, WA, 1943
Disposition: Crashed late 1944.

N79901
G-21A, sn B-63
Alaska Coastal Airlines, 1969
Sold to Alaska Airlines
Disposition: Swedish Museum, static display.

N1019N
JRF-2, sn B-30
Alaska Airlines, Golden Nugget scheme 1970
Disposition: Currently flying in United States, privately owned.

N2751A
G-21A
Alaska Airlines, Totem Pole scheme 1972
The only Goose to fly in this paint. The "Miner" scheme was planned, but was never applied.
Disposition: Currently flying in United States, privately owned.

N327
G-21A, sn 1051
1982 and 1983, appeared on TV as Cutter's Goose in ABC's "Tales of the Gold Monkey."
Disposition: Currently flying in United States, privately owned.

N69283
G-21A, sn 1132
Catalina Flying Boats, 1988
Disposition: Currently flying in United States, privately owned.

N95468
G-21A, sn 1148
Peninsula Airways, Inc., 1978
Disposition: Unknown.

C-FUMG (Yellow scheme)
G-21A, B-145
Trans-Provincial Airlines, Late 70's -1980
Disposition: The last Goose Grumman made. See below for more details on its life.

C-FUMG (Red scheme)
G-21A, B-145
Trans-Provincial Airlines, early 1980's

C-FUMG (Blue scheme)
G-21A, B-145
Trans-Provincial Airlines, late 1980's

C-FUMG
G-21A, B-145
Wagair (Waglisla Air) Airlines, 1993
Disposition: Crashed in late 1993

A very special thanks to Scott Doyle, Geoff McDonell, Rodger Cook and Keith Laird for opening their historical archives.