Hi I'm from indy and have no exposure to grummans. I have considered Embry Riddel education at some point in the future. How much is a Wigeon used? new(if still manufactured)? Unfortunately, I don't know that much about Widgeons; the only prices I've heard for them put them in the $100,000 - $150,000 range, and that's used. I don't think they're made any more. -The Gneech
Subj: goose image
Date: 97-02-02 19:32:26 EST
From: kdkszehr@netins.net (Kirk Zehr)
Thanks for the great site!! I was wondering where you got the side image of the goose that you use in your heading. I have a friend who is a commercial pilot who works in operations for a major airline commuter. His ideal dream is to get a goose and live the Jimmy Buffet life in the Islands. I would love to get the side image that you have and print it up for him. Any help you have would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!
Kirk Zehr
Thanks, glad you like it! :) That particular image is a piece of CorelDRAW clip art. You can download it off of my page if you have Netscape and Windows by simply "right-clicking" it and selecting "Save Image As..." off of the pop-up menu that appears. I'm sure there are ways to do it with other browsers/platforms, but I'm afraid I don't know what those ways are. -The Gneech
Subj: No Subject
Date: 97-02-03 03:04:15 EST
From: d.linder@juno.com (Derek A. Linder)
Dear Sir,
I am currently doing a research project on the Grumman Goose and I enjoy your message board and web site very much. Unfortunately, for the time being, I have a graphically challenged browser so I can't see what your page really looks like. Anyway, I was wondering if you had come across any information on the 12 Gooses (G-21B) that were built strictly as flying boats and were sold to the Portuguese during WWII. They have disappeared as far as I can tell. I thought that maybe you had found some information at the NASM. Thanks for the Goose Page.
Glad you like the page! :) I haven't heard anything about them, but maybe someone out there who reads this message might know? -The Gneech
Subj: Texaco Grumman Goose
Date: 97-02-04 21:31:32 EST
From: b_dash@msn.com (Brian Banks)
I am looking for the "Wings of Texaco #4 1940 Grumman Goose" that you describe on your web page (which is most impressive I might add). If you know where I can obtain one of these beautiful planes, please let me know! Every retailer I have found who sells them is sold out. I am getting desperate to find one. Any help you can provide would be greatly appreciated! Sadly, all I can say is "Good luck!" Once you've tried every Texaco you can find, there's not mech more I can suggest except keep your eyes open at those aviation specialty shops... -The Gneech
Subj: neat page
Date: 97-02-09 22:54:18 EST
From: WL7I
Found your Grumman page while cruising the net. I found a couple of old flying buddies from Alaska on your message board. Bill Stedman who I flew with in Petersburg Ak. and Dave Henley who I flew with in Juneau. I have about 1000 hrs in the Grumman Goose and several thousand in other seaplanes C-180/185, C-206 and DH-2 Beaver and just a tad in the G44 Widgeon. I have sent both old friends e-mail and hope to hear from them soon. Dave Henley mentions the purchase of 3282 and 327 in Juneau in about 1977. I flew both these Goose's and flew 327 From Boeing field in Seattle to Juneau in May 1974, when I was chief pilot for Southeast Skyways based in Juneau. Feel free to post this on your board, maybe I can dredge up some more old friends.
Sincerely;
Darrell L. Terry
Hey, anything I can do to bring old friends together! :) -The Gneech
Subj: Grumman Goose
Date: 97-02-11 17:32:31 EST
From: Frederweb
I saw your site whilst looking for something on the flying boats used by Pan Am immediatly prior to WWII. I had just begun my search when I ran into your site.
I so happens that I own and fly a Lake Amphibian, one of the most fun and challenging aircraft I have had the pleasure of flying in the 37 years I have been at it. Last week I went to River Ranch, Florida to attend a convention of Lake pilots and owners. Someone had flown an absolutely beautiful Grumman Goose to River Ranch and I spent a few minutes looking at it. It was beautifully restored inside an out. Unfortunately, while taxiing, the right landing gear hit a sink hole and last I saw it, the left wing was touching the ground. I can only assume that the sponson collapsed. It was a sickening sight.
I, too, would like to own a Goose, but the price tag is a little rich for my blood. I can barely afford my Lake.
Best regards, Fred Weber Lake 8012D
Ouch! Let's hope that maybe it was a retractable float and it just folded under! -The Gneech
Subj: The Grumman Goose
Date: 97-02-12 11:09:53 EST
From: student@winnie.fit.edu (student)
I myself am an avid fan of the Goose. I would be interested in coming into contact with anyone who would be able to supply me with literature and posters or photos of the Goose. You have an excellent web site and I commend you for your efforts. Thank-you
John Peuplie in Melbourne Florida
Glad you like it! :) Just about anyone who operates or is restoring a Goose will be more than happy to share info with you. Check out the "Owners and Operators" page when I finally get it up and running, as well as the "Links" page to find some more downloadable pictures. -The Gneech
Subj: Goose Page
Date: 97-02-12 15:21:20 EST
From: jsytsma@predominet.com (John Sytsma)
Hi there Gneech....(can I call you Gneech??)
Just came across your web page! I too am a big fan of the Goose, ever since Tales of the Gold Monkey! (I think the only reason I watched Fantasy Island was for "da plane, da plane!)
I was scanning some of the messages and couldn't help but read the one from the RCMP officer...I was on holidays last fall and visited my brother-in-law in Ottawa. He took us to the National Aviation Museum, and to my surprise, they had a Goose there! (the one the RCMP officer discussed) I must admit, it's a beaut!! Took lot's of photo's and if I ever get a scanner, and if you're interested, I can send them to ya!
I don't know if you're aware or not, but in the Arnold Swarzewhatever movie "Commando", there's a lot of excellent footage of a Goose....Taking off, landing and in flight! ( I bought the movie just for those scenes!)
Keep up the good work...( And if you ever hear of any models :^) , could you send me an e-mail? )
John Sytsma
Sure, you can call me Gneech. :) And I've got a whole page dedicated to models now! -The Gneech
Subj: Goose Page
Date: 97-02-13 14:50:03 EST
From: jsytsma@predominet.com (John Sytsma)
Hi Gneech, (BTW, how did you get the nickname???)
-> Hey, thanks for the note! Glad you liked the page. I'd love to see
-> photos if you ever get them scanned.
OK...if I can find someone with a scanner, I get them scanned and send them in to you....
-> As for models, well, all the info I have is posted right there
-> on the main page. I know it isn't much, but there just plain aren't
-> many models around.
There seems to be some support....maybe you should post a note for visitors to your page to write to model manufacturers...who knows, if they get enough requests, they might just make one available!
TTYL
John Sytsma
Predominet Communications Inc.
jsytsma@predominet.com
http://www.predominet.com
I'm not sure where to even begin sending stuff like that. I'll look into it, though... As for how I got my nickname, that's a long and strange tale, which you can read on The Gneech's New! Improved! World Wide Web Page. -The Gneech
Subj: package came response
Date: 97-02-13 18:42:31 EST
From: freshh2o@marge.cyber-dyne.com (Jill and Lester Bingman)
I'm glad you liked the pictures. The cockpit picture is of my Father, Phil Bingman, he's on the verge of retiring after flying in AK since 1965. He has flown a lot of differant aircraft in his time but I can tell you he's at home in the Grumman Goose!
If the aircraft that you see through the fly wires is red, then it's the Widgeon. I hope this doesn't mean you dont like the picture now. I took it out of the pilots window. Steve Carter was flying our Widgeon and I think he was taking pictures of the Goose at the same time, I'll ask him if any of the pictures turned out.
I wouldn't feel right charging you for a Goose ride, if you want a ride just help load and unload the planes and when a seat is available, it's yours. The down side of this news is that we operate in Alaska, but we are based out of Dillingham Ak from 25th of May - October 15th. So get a flight to Dillingham and take a ride with me.
I'll be there. Don't know how or when, but I'll be there! :) -The Gneech
Subj: the goose
Date: 97-02-13 19:22:30 EST
From: wkimmerl@direct.ca (William Ross Kimmerly)
I have just come across your page on the Goose. I flew the goose while in the RCAF during WWII. I was a member of 166 Sqdn at Vancouver where we had several (8) machines in all. We served the various bases on the west coast of Canada. My log book includes "boats and floats" as follows -- Stranraer, Norseman, Blackburn Shark and the Goose (my favorite). I logged several hundred hours on the Goose and have many memories -- mostly good. I'm told that one of ours was the original Texaco Goose (RCAF NO. 798). There are still a few members of 166 Sqdn around this area. I can recall a few "hairy" landings at the steel mat strip at Masset on the Queen Charlotte Islands after a water take-off at Prince Rupert. Wet brakes on the Goose were not exactly efficient. There are still a few of these aircraft operating on Canadas West Coast.
I have the RarePlane model and as you say, it is a beast!! My wife also purchased the Texaco model for my birthday last summer. I would like to hear from anyone wishing more information from my perspective.
Hey, anything you'd like to tell, I'd like to hear! :) -The Gneech
Subj: family reunion:
Date: 97-02-14 12:26:13 EST
From: efleek@pacifier.com (Ed Fleek)
Well thanks to a old friend I found your page, I found folks that I have
worked with and remember well, Hi Freddy, Dave, and the rest. I too have
flown quite a number of different Goose's and still wake up with back
pains from unloading outboard motors out of the bow hatch, (the cabin
was full) Haveing been raised in Juneau,Ak. and then flying them when I
grew up. I was lucky enough to fullfill a child dream, I've flown just
about all mods. to the goose. the only two that I'm aware not flying are
the Mckinnon 4 engine and the extended nose conversion by Mckinnon.
Anyway thanks for the great page, I'll be checking in frequently.
Ed Fleek.
Glad to hear from you, Ed! :) Hope your back gets better... -The Gneech
Subj: Pilot News Flash
Date: 97-02-18 15:24:10 EST
From: remove@armstrong.bizweb.net (Remove from pilot list)
Sender: owner-solopub@armstrong.bizweb.net
Reply-to: remove@armstrong.bizweb.net
To: solopub@armstrong.bizweb.net
***********
This is an unsolicited email message. If you do not wish to receive
these updates, please email to remove@armstrong.bizweb.net and put
"remove" in the subject line. You will not receive any further
updates. Thank you.
***********
Bubba Flash!
The Southern Aviator Online web site (http://www.southern-aviator.com) has been updated with more stories and the lastest general aviation news.
New on the site:
* All Aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt: Join the action as this super
carrier prepares for a six-month deployment at sea.
* Those Wonderful Stearmans: They're not fast or nimble, but this
venerable warbird is truly a pilot's plane.
* Sun 'n Fun EAA Fly-In: The official web site of the world's second
largest fly-in, held in Lakeland, Florida, April 6-12
(http://www.sun-n-fun.com)
* Our expanded Logbook: With spring just around the corner, be sure to
check our extensive calendar of events.
* News about general aviation you won't find anywhere else on the
World Wide Web.
* And much, much more...
Stop by and visit with us.
The Southern Aviator
http://www.southern-aviator.com
Hey, wow, I'm getting Goose-Page related SPAM... -The Gneech
Subj: Grumman Goose
Date: 97-02-19 01:46:17 EST
From: MIKE030493
If you haven't already, read "Where's Joe Merchant ?" by Jimmy Buffett. It is a must for Goose lovers. Borrow it, steal it, buy it, or check it out. Second, when will you have time to put the goose flight manual on-line? Thanks.
Michael Alligood
MIKE030493@Aol.Com
I've read it, thanks. :) As for when the manual will be up, the only honest answer I can give you is "Not as soon as next week, sooner than next year." Just keeping up with the mail is a tougher project than I thought it would be! :) Keep checking, though, it'll go up sometime! -The Gneech
Subj: Goose at Smithsonian
Date: 97-02-25 01:14:47 EST
From: ylekiot@erols.com (Richard Attix)
Hi,
Love your Goose page! I live in the Washington DC area, and find myself going back to see the Goose at the Air & Space museum far too often. What a wonderful plane. Thanks for the page, you've given me much info to sort through and appreciate. Do you know how many of these beauties are left now? Just curious. Thanks for any info.
Richard
Glad you like the page! :) I don't really know how many Gooses are operational; based on what people have told me since the page went up, I'd guess somewhere around sixty (roughly half of the ones made), but that's just a guess. -The Gneech
Subj: links ?
Date: 97-02-25 01:31:09 EST
From: kurt@ptialaska.net (Kurt Morin)
Just visited your page again though you might update your links I moved the "Save The Goose Page" it now can be found at Save The Goose Page (http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Lab/1189/index.html).
I also add alot more new pic's most are from when the guys stopped by our lodge here in Ketchikan Alaska in their Grumman's.... Hey word is they will have five (yes your read that right!) (five) Grumman Gooses in attendance this year for their annual trip north to Alaska!! I can't wait to see them all lined up at our dock!!!! getting itchy photo finger already....
best to ya fellow Goose lover,
Kurt Morin
Envy ... is an ugly thing... ;) -The Gneech
Subj: One Hell of an' aircraft
Date: 97-03-03 04:55:00 EST
From: Steffensen@mail.fm (Dalverne Steffensen)
Hello: I am bringing a Goose out to the central pacific. I have about 4000 hours flying the goose in the pacific north west, out of Prince Rupert B.C. Canada.
I am now in a small country Federated States of Micronesia. I will be flying it to the small atolls (with lagoons) Would you please send me the address where I can buy parts in Canada or any place that you know of. If you should get down in this neck of the woods I will take you for a ride to one of the outer islands.
Thank you for your time.
Capt. D.R.Steffensen
Your best bet is to contact Les Povarchook or one of the other many people working on Restoration projects in Canada, or someone like Fresh Water Adventures who operate Gooses professionally. (Check out the message board archives for email links.) -The Gneech
Subj: goose mania....
Date: 97-03-04 14:18:43 EST
From: Bucktgc
Hello,
I enjoyed your page about the Grumman Goose. I remember flying on them to Catalina island ... a small island of the coast of California. Catalina Airlines operated six Airplanes ... all Grumman ... between San Pedro Harbor and The Pebbly Beach Seaplane port. This service stopped around the mid-80s. There are some great photos of the Goose in "Bush Flying" by David Oliver. (Osprey Publication)
I'll never forget sitting right seat and feeling the roar of the engines and seeing the spray and mist kicked up by the props. Keep up the good work. If you need more info.....I got it
Thomas.
Glad you like the page! I'll keep my eyes out for "Bush Flying." -The Gneech
Subj: Goose
Date: 97-03-04 17:11:51 EST
From: SLYocum1
Hey Fine Gentleman
Your web page rocks. I never knew there were so many people out there who loved seaplanes like I do. Of course you can use my name. Sara M. Spock
I particularly enjoyed the Goose Highlights/focus You know your stuff. Keep up the good work and let me know if any Geese instructors come to central PA.
sara
Hey, thanks for the note, but I'm hardly a "fine gentleman." More like a "scurvy scallywag." ;) If any instructors or even just operators go to central PA and I hear about it, I'll be up there myself with the first ticket for a flight! -The Gneech
Subj: Seattle Seaplanes
Date: 97-03-05 17:16:00 EST
From: davidr@GoodServer.com (David Rauschenbach)
I moved from Seattle to Irvine, CA in January, but not before getting a ride in Seattle Seaplanes' Goose in Nov 96. They told us they were looking for a seller at the time, and that the Goose was not profitable. It was a leaky but beautiful plane - I had a blast on their 20 minute flight.
David
Don't often hear about people moving from Seattle to California! ;) I imagine it would be tough to make a Goose profitable, if only because of the insurance payments, but I can't imagine having the heart to sell one if I owned it, profit or loss. -The Gneech
Subj: Grumman Albatross enthusiast
Date: 97-03-06 18:02:06 EST
From: Kaycee@new.co.za (K. Crutchley)
Gneech
I have been doing some research into the Grumman Albatross, and I have really been battling to get anywhere. There is just so little info available here in South Africa. Your page really got my hopes up.
I know you are dedicated to the Goose, but thought you may have uncovered some info/leads/links during your travels. I would really appreciate any help offered. I am looking for anything from pilot's reports, technical details to history of the type.
If anyone can help, they can email me at kaycee@new.co.za
Thanks for a great page; I love anything with an aviation theme and yours has definitely made it onto my favourites page.
Regards
Keith Crutchley
Cape Town
Well, I know that Albatrosses are bigger, were designed primarily for the American Coast Guard, and have a protrudy nose cone. More than that, you'll have to find out from Jane's or similar sources. I've heard that Jimmy Buffett recently acquired one, so there'll probably be a page or two about them popping up before too long. Any time that guy buys a plane, its public visibility goes way up. :) -The Gneech
Subj: Grumman Goose Home Page (old & new E-Mail)
Date: 97-03-06 23:20:56 EST
From: dkusrow@us.net (Daniel Kusrow)
Man, I wondered what had happened to you? Hard disk crashes can be a royal pain! I guess that is putting it mildly. Below, I have included some of the E-Mail I originally sent to you pre-crash. After this I have included some new interesting Goose tid-bits. I may have also located the elusive Goose model of your dreams!
(Original Date: 6/19/96) Your home page is outstanding! I am really happy to see that someone has taken the time to pay homage to one of the most graceful airplanes ever to fly. I guess it goes without saying that I am a "hard core" fan of the Goose.
What I am very interested in learning is anything about the airlines that operated the Goose. I know that Antilles, Chalk's, Reeve Aleutian and Catalina all used them. Do you know of others?
Like yourself, I reside in Northern Virginia and have enjoyed visiting the beautifully restored Goose (a "true" labor of love) in the NASM on numerous occasions. I am also a member of the Washington Airline Society (WAS), which is a group devoted to the study and pursuit of airlines around the world. We meet the last Wednesday of every month at 7:00 pm in the basement of the NASM. From your home page, it sounds like you would enjoy the WAS. I hope that you can join us for one of our upcoming meetings.
One of the things I spent a lot of time looking for was a good desktop model of the Goose. Luckily, I found one that I did not have to assemble. The model is made out of resin and painted with auto paint, not a cheap piece of business. The wingspan is roughly 8 inches, lenght is 7 inches and height is 5 inches (including the wood and metal base). There are two paint schemes available, one of which is the old Chalk's colors. The cost is $75 plus shipping and handling. You can order it from a company next to Miami International Airport, called Tally-Ho. Their phone number is (305) 871-6200. The model is absolutetly first class!
I have collected a large assortment of old photos and postcards of the Goose. A book entitled "The Grumman Story" has a nice write-up about the development in 1936 and 1937 of the Goose, which was the first commercial plane for Grumman and the largest aircraft it had produced up to that point. I have also obtained issues from July of 1937 of "Aero Digest" and "Aviation," full of Goose pictures and advertisements, which introduced the classic amphibian to the flying public. Let me know if you can put some this material to good use on your home page. I think one day I might just have to write a book devoted solely to the beloved G-21 Goose.
(Original Date: 6/20/96) Found some interesting Goose tid-bits!
Other airlines that operated the Goose were KNILM (the Dutch East Indies affiliate of KLM) and LAB (the German-backed airline in Bolivia). Places where the Goose was exported to include: Great Britain (flew with the RAF, they were the ones that called it the Goose first), France (saw combat time in Indochina), the Bahamas, Bolivia, Canada, New Guinea, Dutch East Indies, Peru, Portugal and Venezuela.
Also came upon this great quote about the Goose. "Equipped with ample power reserve the Goose performed very well without being pushed, and always had that little bit left for the extra effort. The G-21A was a whole lot of airplane, and it practically took two to fly her, but she responded well and convinced pilots that there was just rewards in a job well done. The big Goose was a trifle wobbly on land, but was a literal swan in the water. Some have said the portly Goose was surely built lik a bridge with everything far stronger than it needed to be, but that was the secret of her willingness to take on any job, and to keep on doing it in the (many) years to come." (Source: U.S. Civil Aircraft Series, Vol. 7 by Joseph Juptner)
I have seen photographs where a Goose did a wheels-up touchdown on land. The Goose was just jacked-up and flown off, with the aircraft suffering no serious damage.
Just remembered, another example of the Goose in American pop culture its appearance in the mid-1980's Arnold Schwarzenegger movie "Commando."
Today: Okay, I won't keep you in suspense any longer. A beautiful copy of the 1950s motorized Goose model (unassembled and in a pristine box) can be had from Aeroplane Books of Williamsburg, Virgina @ 1-800-447-8890. The price is $200, not quite as steep as the $350 price quoted in some of the other E-Mails. If you don't want it, I am sure some of the other users of your site would be quite interested. Aeroplane Books is one of the best shops for old and hard-to-find aviation books in the entire country. They have over 7,000 titles. On one of my visits there, I was searching their inventory for over eight hours. I managed to procure from them an obscure book issued in the mid 1970s that is soley focused on the Grumman aircraft produced prior to World War II. It has the complete production list for the Goose and the Widgeon. It has also has some rather unique photographs. Have you ever seen a Goose coverted for VTOL operations?
I was very happy to see that Bill Larkins found your site on 9/30/96. The man is one the leading and most popular aviation historians in the country. He wrote the definitive history of the Ford Trimotor, a plane as venerable as the Grumman Goose. He has been photograhing and tracking the Goose since the late 1930s. In fact, he is one of the authors of the book that I mentioned in the paragraph above. From what I understand, he has accumumulated an enormous amount of research material on the Goose.
Since I E-Mailed you last, I have managed to find a copy of the original sales brochure issued in December 1937 by the Gillies Aviation Corp. (sales agents for Grumman) for the G-21. I am very happy to see that you have posted a copy of the technical specifications page from this brochure. It's also neat to know that this is the same brochure that is on display with the Goose at the NASM. My copy came from the collection of another one of the authors of the book that I mentioned above. Not a cheap piece of business, but I had to have it.
Again, I want to extend to you an invitation to join us at the next WAS meeting at the end of March. We will be discussing Charles Lindbergh's contributions to commercial aviation. I have even found a picture of Lindbergh standing in front of a Goose rolled up on a beach in the Baja in the 1970s that he had just piloted. Both are high in my aviation pantheon!
Thanks for re-sending that stuff after my crash. I wanted to go to the meeting, but I was sick as a dog that week (my voice still sounds like "Froggy" from The Little Rascals!). I'll keep trying! Meanwhile, the model info will go right to my models page! -The Gneech
Subj: Gold Monkey
Date: 97-03-08 21:48:57 EST
From: CPT CLOUD
I would like to buy a copy of the series. Let me know if anyone has copies they are selling.
There is some discreet TOTGM tape trading going on at the semi-official Tales of the Gold Monkey Page. Tell Patricia I sent you! :) -The Gneech
Subj: Catalog info for seaplanes.
Date: 97-03-08 22:48:12 EST
From: Bucktgc
Hey man,
I've got this great catalog and it's called Seawings and it's in California ... Here's the address:
Seawings
P.O. Box 424
Pt. Ritchmond, CA 94807-0424
Phone them at (510) 237-4645
They have a bunch of different seaplane models and tons 'o books. They have some good stuff on the Goose including books...service manuals...pilot handbook...pins...and a plastic reproduction of a grumman control column. Cool posters of Catalina aviation with the goose in flight.
And now for some bad news. If you can handle it there is some horrible footage of a goose getting bent in a video called "Endless Summer II" Some guy comes in for a crazy landing and you can see a float snap and a wing bend. It's pretty bad but at least you get to see a goose. I don't think the goose a write-off.
P.S. If the Seawings place is not there anymore ........well.....1) sorry for the tease 2) It's not my damn fault I'm just trying to get the info out to the masses:)
Keep up the good work.
Hey, dude, chill! ;) -The Gneech
Go to the Goose Technical Info Page
Go to the Restoration/Save the Goose Projects Page (This link not yet activated.)
Go to the Grumman JRF Operations Manual Page (This link not yet activated.)
Go to the Goose and Other Pictures Page (This link not yet activated.)
Go to The Gneech's NEW! IMPROVED! World Wide Web Page
Go to the Astounding Adventures Quarterly World Wide Web Page