Like any true amphibious aircraft, the Goose came outfitted and prepared for both land and water operations. Also improving water handling was the ship-like shape of the fuselage with its narrower nose and deep body. To that end, the Grumman designers opted for a stable mono-hull design supported by large balanced floats under each wing. Mono-hull with both conventional landing gear and floatsĪs a dedicated amphibious aircraft, water handling performance was important to the Goose’s success. For the original client base of commuting businessmen, handling characteristics were the most important focus, and that is reflected in the design. In its original bid to serve as the successor to the Leoning Air Yacht, the Goose was designed with certain key features that would set it apart and earn it a spot in history. A mere 5 weeks later, the first batch of twelve G-21 Goose planes were ordered for their eager customers. The finished product was a modern delight whose first test flight was completed in the early summer of 1937.
It is Grumman’s first single-wing aircraft, first twin-engine aircraft, and first commercial airliner. The Goose represents several important firsts for the Grumman design team. Grumman accepted the challenge and collaborated with designer William Schwendler and hydrodynamicist Ralston Stalb to create the new design.įor the original client base of commuting businessmen, handling characteristics were the most important focus, and that is reflected in the design. Their ideal aircraft would still be an amphibious utility biplane but with improved flight characteristics, handling characteristics, and visual appeal.
These men were looking for someone to design and build a replacement plane for the unwieldly Leoning Air Yacht they were currently using as a commuter aircraft between home and work. The HIN must also be marked in a second location on the hull, that is either beneath a fitting or an item of hardware or that is on the interior of the vessel and unexposed.In 1936, Leroy Grumman of Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation was approached by a group of ten wealthy New York aviator-businessmen.
If, despite reasonable efforts that can be proved in writing, the owner of the boat is unable to obtain a hull serial number from the builder, manufacturer, rebuilder or importer of the boat, the boat is not required to be marked with a hull serial number. If a boat is not marked with a hull serial number, the owner of the boat must make a request for such a number to the builder, manufacturer, rebuilder or importer of the boat. No person shall alter, deface or remove a hull serial number. The HIN shall be located where it is clearly visible when the vessel is in the water, namely, on the upper starboard quarter of the outside surface of the transom or if the vessel has no transom, on the uppermost starboard side at the aft end of the hull.
The HIN helps to find lost or stolen boats and boats that are subject to a recall. It's 12 digits long, beginning with the Manufacturer’s Identification Code (MIC). No character of the HIN is to be less than 6 mm (¼”) in height and width. All pleasure craft made or imported into Canada must have a Hull Serial Number (HIN) affixed to it.