N789 Gumman G-21A S/N B-102

The Grumman Goose was originally designed as a commuter plane for wealthy businessmen and sportsman located in and around New York City. The aircraft first flew in 1937 and was in production until 1945. A total of 345 aircraft were built.

Federal Aviation Administration records indicate there are 65 currently registered in the United States.

N789 is a JRF-5 model, and was accepted by the Navy at the Grumman factory in Bethpage, N.Y., in November 1944.

It has two Pratt & Whitney R-985 radial engines with Hartzell three blade propellers installed.

N789 was transferred to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service in January 1956.

Ownership of N789 was transferred to the Alaska Aviation Museum in October 1996 by the Department of the Interior.

The Goose is a very popular and well-known aircraft. There have been a number of commuter airlines that have flown the Goose here in Alaska. Coastal Airways in Southeast Alaska and Kodiak Airways on Kodiak Island are the best known.

According to the museum, the only commuter airline still operating the Goose in Alaska is Peninsula Airways. They operate two in the Aleutian Islands.