Grumman G-21 Goose

The Grumman G-21 Goose is an American twin-engine amphibious flying boat built by Grumman Aircraft, entering service in 1937 as the company's first monoplane design and originally intended as an eight-seat air taxi for wealthy business commuters around the New York area. Built with a boat-shaped hull for water landings and retractable wheels allowing it to also operate from conventional runways, the Goose proved rugged and versatile enough that it was adopted in large numbers by the United States military during the Second World War for coastal patrol, search and rescue, and utility transport duties. Its combination of amphibious capability and reliability kept many examples flying commercially for decades afterward, particularly on short island and coastal routes in regions with limited runway infrastructure.