Goodyear Duck

GA-2 Duck
Goodyear GA-2 Duck
Role	Three-seat light amphibian
Manufacturer	Goodyear Aircraft Corporation
First flight	1944 (GA-1)
Number built	19

The Goodyear GA-2 Duck was a 1940s American three-seat light amphibian built by the Goodyear Aircraft Corporation. The design team included David Thurston, who later developed several other light seaplanes including the Colonial Skimmer, Lake Buccaneer, Thurston Teal and Seafire. Only 19 aircraft were built, and these were used only for testing and as demonstrators.

Design and development

The Goodyear Aircraft Corporation began to design a small light amphibian before the end of the Second World War. The prototype designated GA-1 first flew in September 1944. It was a cantilever high-wing monoplane with underwing stabilizing floats. The GA-1 had an all-metal fabric-covered wing, an all-metal single-step hull, and a cruciform tail unit. It had a retractable tail-wheel, accommodation for two, and a pylon-mounted piston engine with a pusher propeller.

Operational history

After successful testing of the prototype, 18 demonstration aircraft were built. These differed from the prototype in that they had room for the pilot and two passengers. Two versions were built, the GA-2 with a 145 hp (108 kW) Franklin 6A4-145-A3 piston engine, and the GA-2B with a 165 hp (123 kW) Franklin 6A4-165-B3 flat-six piston engine. Although the aircraft were successfully tested and demonstrated, the costs involved in producing the aircraft prevented it being sold at a price that private pilots could afford, and the project was abandoned. In 1950, a revised four-seat variant the GA-22 Drake was flown, followed in 1953 by the GA-22A Drake; only one of each was built.

Variants

GA-1 Duck

Prototype two-seater originally powered by a 107 hp (80 kW) Franklin 4ACG-100-H3 piston engine, later fitted with a 125 hp (93 kW) Franklin 6A engine, one built.

GA-2 Duck

Demonstration three-seat aircraft with a 145 hp (108 kW) Franklin 6A4-145-A3 engine, 16 built, some later modified as GA-2Bs.

GA-2B Duck

Demonstration three-seat aircraft with a 165 hp (123 kW) Franklin 6A4-163-B3 engine, six modified from GA-2s in 1949.

GA-22 Drake

Revised larger variant with four-seats, two built (one as a GA-22A with a revised hull) with the first flight in 1950.

GA-22A Drake

Revised larger variant with four-seats, powered by a 225 hp (167 kW) Continental E-225-8 and converted into a flying boat with a revised hull; first flight in 1953.

Survivors

The last aircraft built, the GA-22A Drake registered N5516M, was stored by the EAA Air Venture Museum until 2010^[1] The airplane was transferred to the Military Aviation Preservation Society in Canton, OH where it was fully restored and put on display in 2013.

Specifications (GA-2B)

General characteristics

• Crew: One
• Capacity: Two passengers
• Length: 26 ft 0 in (7.92 m)
• Wingspan: 36 ft 0 in (10.97 m)
• Height: 9 ft 6 (on wheels) in (2.90 (on wheels) m)
• Wing area: 178.20 ft² (16.55 m²)
• Empty weight: 1600 lb (726 kg)
• Gross weight: 2300 lb (1043 kg)
• Powerplant: 1 × Franklin 6A4-163-B3 flat-six piston engine, 165 hp (123 kW)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 125 mph (201 km/h)
• Range: 300 miles (483 km)
• Service ceiling: 15,000 ft (4570 m)

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

• Aeromarine Seafire
• Colonial Skimmer
• Lake Buccaneer
• Republic RC-3 Seabee
• SIAI-Marchetti FN.333 Riviera
• Thurston Teal
• Trident TR-1 Trigull

Related lists

• List of seaplanes and flying boats

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Goodyear Duck.

Notes

Bibliography

• The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985). London: Orbis Publishing, 1985, pp. 1977–1978.
• Trimble, Robert L. "Ducks and Drakes." Air Progress Aviation Review, Volume 6, No. 1, Spring 1982.