1939 Grumman Turbine Goose

Detailed Description

• 1939 Grumman Turbine Goose
• 1969 McKinnon G-21-G model Turbine Goose Conversion.

Remarks

Originally Built by Grumman Aircraft in Bethpage, New York in 1939 (Grumman JRF-5 s/n B-62, ex-USN BuNo. 37809). She was delivered to the Gulf Oil Corporation in December of '39 and was based in the Baton Rouge area. Then in the early 1940's, she was "impressed" by the US War Department to be used in WW2. Little war history is known, but it was believed to be based in Poland for most of her military time. Then used by the Smithsonian in central and South America after the war ended. She was eventually sold to Iceland Air in Reykjavik, Iceland to be used in their fleet as a domestic airliner (TF-ISR). She was flown regularly until the early '60s when she was scrapped and used as a parts source to support the other gooses in the fleet. Purchased by Harold Hansen from Seattle, Wa, she was transported onboard a ship to Portland, Or where she was purchased by McKinnon Enterprises and remanufactured and converted into a 1969 McKinnon G-21-G model Turbine Goose Serial Number 1205 (N5558). She was then sold to Payton Hawes, the founder of PayLess Drug Stores, who used her as a corporate aircraft throughout the Western US. and Canada. She often was used to carry friends and business associates to his fishing lodge at Red Fern Rapids in Northern B.C. In 1980 she was exported to New Zealand where she was registered (ZK-ERX) and operated in charter and airline service by Sea Bee Air. Retired from a scheduled air service contract to the Tokelau, Islands, she was overhauled by Air New Zealand and exported back to the USA in 1984(N77AQ) by Kalt Manufacturing of Cleveland, Ohio. She was purchased by the current owner in 1988.

This example is being offered for sale in partnership with Aerometal International Inc., an aviation maintenance and management company with extensive experience in providing effective maintenance and full service operational solutions for large and unique vintage aircraft.