USA - 4 Iconic Flying Boats From US Manufacturer Grumman's Portfolio
The US manufacturer produced some fine examples of flying boats over the years.
SUMMARY
- Grumman Corporation specialized in producing small and medium-sized flying boats, including the G-21 Goose, G-44 Widgeon, G-73 Mallard, and G-64 Albatross.
- These flying boats revolutionized the use of flying boats, expanding their applications to include private, military, and commercial airline travel.
- Despite the decline of flying boats, there is still potential for a newly engineered flying boat design, as demonstrated by Catalina Aircraft's attempt to revive the Consolidated Catalina flying boat.
The Grumman Corporation produced many aircraft types over the decades, yet it specialized in producing small and medium-sized flying boats for many years. Here, Simple Flying looks at just four of the most well-known and successful flying boats that Grumman built in that era.
Introducing the Grumman flying boat family
The flying boat has historically had mixed fortunes. Yet one US manufacturer carved a niche in mass-producing a series of flying boats for various applications. Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation (now part of Northrop Grumman), based in New York, was that company, and its amphibious aircraft have become ubiquitous with the flying boat heydays of the 20th century.
The manufacturer began its activities in the flying boat arena with its G-21 model, known as the Goose. Over time, the company broadened its flying boat offering to include other models, including the Widgeon, the Mallard, and the Albatross.
This article briefly examines each of these in turn and explains how their production changed the way flying boats were used. Where once these magnificent machines were best well known for opening up long-haul passenger air travel, Grumman showed how flying boats could be used far more widely, including for private and military uses and commercial airline travel.
The G-21 Grumman 'Goose'
Grumman initially established itself with the FF ('Fifi') biplane naval fighter and later its JF ('Duck') biplane floatplane. The experience gained with the latter of these types would provide a springboard for the development of other models by the company.
In 1936, a group of Long Island-based millionaires approached the Grumman company to ask for a flying boat aircraft they could use to fly from Long Island to New York City. As there were other potential markets for such an aircraft, Grumman went ahead with the project, designing a twin-engined high-wing monoplane, initially referred to as the G-21.
