Seaplane Widgeons

GRUMMAN G-44 WIDGEON

    Famous as "De plane, De plane" from the '80s TV series, Fantasy Island, the Grumman G-44 Widgeon is a fast, rugged, six person, twin engine, high wing cantilever monoplane amphibious flying boat designed for coastal sea operations which first stroke the sky on July 22 1940.

    Continuing the indomitable Grumman Bethpage 'Ironworks' proud history of naval aircraft construction, the Widgeon was built to meet the over whelming calls for a smaller version of the classicly indestructible G-21 Widgeon. As the Goose's pretty little sister the Widgeon has been described by operator Owen Harnish as a sportscar compared to the delivery van like Goose.

    Used extensively by US naval forces in the second world war, the greatest virtue of the Widgeon is its phenomenally strong construction designed especially for sea water conditions. This strength has enabled Widgeons to withstand years of rough sea landings which would have snapped floatplanes. This strength is also the reason why Widgeons were able to operate 360 days a year from the rough Mechanics Bay in Auckland, New Zealand.

        The Widgeon became a favorite VIP transporters for water based destinations as a mini-linear that isn't afraid to get its feet wet. Approximately 35 are still flying in the States and if you can get a ride you'll make us green with envy :-)

WIDGEON QUOTES

"Visions of freedom come in many forms, one of which is an airplane that's equally at home whether on land, on water, or in the air. Although an aerodynamic compromise, the amphibious airplane is viewed by many as a virtual freedom machine that can, in many parts of the globe, function independently of runways.

To carry the vision one step further, the small, personal amphibian means huge personal freedom. And so, on the seventh day, Grumman produced the Widgeon-its answer for those seeking freedom and utilitarianism at their extremes. "
- Budd Davidsson

"It feels like a little sports car; you almost wear the airplane."
"It's a nice personal-size airplane."
"It's the only way you can get around Alaska."
"Its a Grumman Iron Works airplane."
- John Schwamm, who has owned four Widgeons.

"Id I had to vote for the best-looking amphibian ever built,
the Grumman Widgeon would win hands down."
- Rowan Baylis

"At Christmas the adult population (of Stewart Island, NZ) was particularly delighted to see their alcohol supply arrive by air and many considered this Widgeon service was improving their quality of life!"
- Richard Waugh

"Feels like a sports car to fly, very light on the controls. With land and sea capability there is not much in this size that offers the performance of a McKinnon Widgeon."
- John Schwamm, Widgeon Owner

"It was wonderful, I'm just sitting there happily and we go in to the water and, oh my God! Everyone was sitting there calmly and so did I and away we went. . . .There were times it was rough, I mean really rough, but it was great. They managed to get off inch by inch but by that time I was quite blasey. I just treated it as an adventure and went with the flow. . . I had some amazing adventures in those planes, great hilariously times!"
- Mrs. Tracey Wotherspoon, Herne Bay resident (Auckland, N.Z.) who flew dozens of times in the Sea Bee Widgeons to outling schools in her capacity as an Auckland Board of Education official in the '70s & 80s.

If you learn to fly the Widgeon and are profficient in it you can fly any seaplane ever built. I have always wanted to own one, however the closest I have ever gotten to ownership was one made by Revell. I did get to fly the Widgeon with the ranger engines and fixed pitch wooden props. :) :) in 1954 I think it was???Sooo... anyone that wants to fly the greatest playtoy in the Seaplane world you must fly the Widgeon...
- Chuck

The performance of a widgeon may surprise a lot of you.It really depends on who's engine modification the individual plane has.My widgeon with the o-470's will probably outperform 90% of the float planes off the water and has a useful of 1500#.From standstill on water to above the tree line is right at 2000ft.down here in fla.on a warm day.- Chester

WIDGEON SPEEDS (New Zealand TEAL version)

Vne
Vno
Vle
Va
Vc
Vfe
V2 (TOSS)
Vy
Va
Vs
Vmc1
Vmc

Never exceed speed
Max. structural cruise
Max. ldg gear speed
Max. abrupt control speed
Cruise speed
Max. flap speed
Takeoff safety speed
Best rate of climb
T/O decision speed
Stall speed clean
Min. approach speed
Min. critical engine speed

185kts (212mph/342km/h)
168kts (193mph/311km/h)
168kts (193mph/311km/h)
150kts (172mph/278km/h)
120kts (138mph/222km/h)
90kts (104mph/167km/h)
85kts (98mph/157km/h)
78kts (90mph/144km/h)
78kts (90mph/144km/h)
72kts (83mph/133km/h)
68kts (78mph/126km/h)
46kts (53mph/85km/h)

WIDGEON SPECS

Engine Size
Engine Type
Useful Load
Max Take Off Weight
Empty Weight
Fuel Consumption
Fuel Tank Size
Endurance
Range
Cruise
Max speed
Stall speed
Service Ceiling

STANDARD
2 x 200 hp
Ranger L-440C-5
1,300 lbs
4,525 lbs
3,225 lbs

108 USG (475 l)

780 nm
120 kts
133 kts
53 kts
14,600'

TEAL CONVERSION (NZ)
2 x 260 hp
Continental IO-480
1,400lbs
5,200lbs
3,800lbs
100l/hour (?)
?
?
863nm

SUPER WIDGEON (USA)
2 x 270hp
Lycoming GO-480
1268lbs
5500lbs
4232lbs
25 USG/hour (95 l/hour)
156USG

135kts

WIDGEON PRODUCTION

317 Widgeons of all types were created and can be broken down into two groups:
Initial Production Models called G-44s built just before & during the war & Post war models G-44As and French Scan 30s.

INITIAL WIDGEON PRODUCTION
1941-45    200 Grumman G-44A   cn 1201-1400 USCG (J4F4), USN (136 J4F-2), USAAC (OA014), RN (15 Goslings) & Civilian

POST-WAR WIDGEON PRODUCTION
1946-49     41 Societe de Construction Aero-Navale SCAN-30    cn 1-41
1946-49     76 Grumman G-44A cn 1401-147

COAST GUARD WIDGEONS

The US Coast Guard purchased 25 Grumman J4F-1 aircraft, a light amphibian utility transport, for search and rescue duty at a cost of for $75,526 each. They were purchased in two batches beginning in 1941 and the initial order consisted of eight aircraft, purchased under contract TCG-33459, with the first aircraft delivered from Grumman on 7 July 1941. These aircraft were given USCG service numbers V197 through V204. The following year the second batch, consisting of 17 aircraft, was acquired under contract TCG-34026. The first J4F from this batch was delivered to the Coast Guard on 25 February 1942 and the final was delivered on 29 June 1942. These aircraft were given the service numbers V205 through V221. Powered by 2 Ranger L-440-2 in-line engines with Sensenich wooden fixed pitch propellers, they performed well on missions of all kinds. Most unusual was the ASW version carrying two depth charges on bomb racks under the wings. This Widgeon in the photo was number V202.

SCAN-30 - THE FRENCH WIDGEON

SCAN-30s were built under licence by Societe de Construction Aero-Navale in La Rochelle, France. They have been described on the seaplane pilots association site thusly :

"The SCAN widgeon was factory built in France under license from Grumman, it had Lycoming Radial engines installed at the factory. The SCAN widgeon had very little corrosion proofing when they left the factory, this leaves them very susceptible to corrosion. . . The factory engines from France were the 200 HP Salmson 8 AS-00 engines. I have only seen 1 factory picture of this engine/cowling combination. The "SCAN" Widgeons, as is commonly referred to, did not have the factory anodizing that Grumman had put on their Widgeons, had metric fittings and hardware, just to name a couple of the differences. Their are quite a few SCAN Widgeons flying, the 2 original TIO-540 powered Magnum Widgeon conversions are both SCAN's, and the 2000 Oshkosh Reserve Grand Champion was a SCAN30 Widgeon, I believe that there are about 10 flying SCAN Widgeons in North America."

SCAN 20
The Société des Constructions Aéronavales or SCAN was a small company based at La Rochelle. During the war they had designed the SCAN 20,a four-place trainer with an engine mounted on struts above the fuselage centre driving a 3-bladed pusher propeller. The SCAN 20 prototype made its first flight after the war on 6 October 1945. The French navy ordered a small batch of 23 production machines fitted with a Potez 8D30 engine of 450 hp.

SCAN 30
After the construction of the SCAN 20 was terminated, this small firm introduced for both civil and governmental use an all-metal small amphibian flying boat as the SCAN 30. The SCAN 30 had a very close resemblance to the US Grumman Widgeon. This was not by accident, but purposely since SCAN had acquired the licence construction rights for this American type for production in their La Rochelle plant. The SCAN 30 was offered with various type of engines as demanded by the customer. The SCAN 30 prototype F-WFDM made its maiden flight on 14 May 1953 fitted with Gipsy Queen II engines. In total SCAN manufactured a batch of 41 of this versatile small amphibian. They were delivered to various world-wide customers but most of these were in fact directly exported to the United States. It is possible that some of them are still flying around, most likely as a ‘Grumman Widgeon’.After production of the SCAN 30 was terminated, the company was not further involved in aircraft construction, but in the construction of boats. Even in 1976 two flying boat airframes were auctioned by SCAN as scrap and most likely these were SCAN 30’s and they could have been the never-sold c/n 17 and c/n 18!

Technical details:
Power plants: 2 Salmson 8AS-00(240 hp)/Lycoming R-860 E(300 hp)/Gipsy Queen II(200 hp) Lycoming GO-435-C2(260 hp)
Dimensions: wingspan 13.15 m length 9.52 m height 3.77 m wing area 22.3 m2
Weights: empty 1600 kg all-up loaded 2350-2495 kg depending on version
Performances: max. speed 304 km/h at sea level range 750 km service ceiling 2450 m
Equipment: capacity for one pilot and three passengers

The following SCAN 30’s were built:
c/n 01 F-WFDM (prototype)     c/n 14 N58LM     c/n 28 N2812D     c/n 1 F-WFHA     c/n 15 N60LM      c/n 29 N2813D
c/n 2 F-WFHB                        c/n 16 N7912C   c/n 30 N2814D     c/n 3 F-WFHC     c/n 17 no trace    c/n 31 N7921C
c/n 4 F-WFHD                        c/n 18 no trace c/n 32 N7916C     c/n 5 F-WFHE      c/n 19 F-BGTD     c/n 33 N4451
c/n 6 F-BFHF                         c/n 20 N7917C c/n 34 N4452     c/n 7 F-BFHG      c/n 21 N7775C     c/n 35 N4120A
c/n 8 F-BFHH                         c/n 22 unknown (to USA)              c/n 36 F-OABR   c/n 9 N62G     c/n 23 unknown (to USA) c/n 37 unknown (to USA)        c/n 10 N3923                             c/n 24 unknown (to USA)             c/n 38 F-OALL
c/n 11 N7918C                     c/n 25 N7913C                             c/n 39 F-OALM                              c/n 12 N7911C
c/n 26 N2810D                     c/n 40 F-OALN                             c/n 13 N3924     c/n 27 N2811D     c/n 41 N4122A

McKINNON SUPER WIDGEON CONVERSION

US firm McKinnon Enterprises offered conversions during the 1960s to both the Grumman Goose and Widgeon. McKinnon’s Super Widgeon conversion involved fitting G44As with Lycoming GO480 flat six cylinder engines driving three-blade propellers, which significantly boosted top speed, climb performance and range through improved fuel economy and extra fuel tankage. Other changes incorporated on the Super Widgeon were then modern IFR avionics, new wider cabin windows, more soundproofing, an emergency escape hatch, and optional retractable wingtip floats. Modifications to the hull and structure, meanwhile, allowed an increase in the Super Widgeon’s maximum take-off weight.

WIDGEON TRIVIA

G-44A WIDGEONS - The Improved Widgeon
The G-44A was redesigned for the civilian market from the lessons learned during tough military operations during the war. Seating was increased to six and a new hull was made to improve its water handling.

SUPER WIDGEONS - The Powerful Widgeon
50 of the 383 Widgeons were later converted to Super Widgeons by McKinnon Enterprises. These much more power Widgeons had 270hp Avco Lycoming GO-480-B1D flat six piston engines / modern avionics / 3 blade props / larger windows /improved soundproofing / emergency exits / increased MTOW / optional retractable wing-tip floats.

THE FANTASY ISLAND WIDGEON
The Fantasy Island Widgeon is a Masandorf Widgeon. It uses Lycoming engines, so externally it may resemble a French built SCAN-30 but is none the less a Widgeon.

MILITARY WIDGEON USERS
Brazil, Israel (2xG-44A), Portugal, Thailand (5xG-44A) , United Kingdom - Royal Navy, Unites States - USAAC, USAAF, USCG, USN, CAP, Urugary

ISRAEL'S WIDGEON USE
A pair of Widgeons were donated to the fledgling IAF in 1948 by the Dutch millionaire Bernard Van Lear. The Widgeons were employed on cargo flights between IAF bases and were usually land based. On December 2nd 1948 one of the Widgeons crashed while attempting to land on the Sea of Galilee, killing the three foreign volunteers aboard. The second Widgeon was retired in 1949.

MILITARY SUCCESS
Civil Air Patrol Widgeon NC 28674 cn1213 flown out of Base 1 New Jersey flown by CAP Commander Wynant Farr and Captain Johnny Haggin sunk a U-boat, a kill which was later confirmed. This U-boat killer is still alive and flies in Alaska as N199tT.

MILITARY CONFUSION
There's a fair bit of confusion of another Widgeon U-boat attack. Its mistakenly believed by some that a United States Coast Coast Widgeon, V-212, flown by White & Boggs attacked and sunk U-boat U166. Post war research later found that on the day in question they actually attacked U171 and missed completely. An expedition run by Shell Oil confirmed this a few years ago when they found the wrecks of U166 & its last victim the SS Robert E. Lee laying together just off the Mississippi River mouth.

WIDGEON EPISODES
Jimmy Buffett easily survived a crash when his Widgeon flying boat, N1471N cn1471 hit a wake on takeoff in Nantucket Harbor and flipped. Having followed the Boy Scout motto of 'Be Prepared' Jimmy had

CURRENTLY REGISTERED WIDGEONS REMAINING IN THE STATES (2008/7/20)
74    G-44 registered out of 266 built (28%)
43    G-44A registered out of 76 built (63%)
8     G-44K-30 registered, can not calculate as don't know if these 8 were 44s or 44As.
The three lucky states with the most Widgeons are Alsaka (31), Florida (17), and Washington (10).

10   SCAN Widgeons are reported to still be flying in the States as well.

CANADIAN WIDGEONS STILL REGISTERED (2008/7/20)
1    G-44         C-FBCP   s/n 1327
1    G-44A       C-FNOX   s/n 1414
1   SCAN-30    C-F-ODR s/n 28

KIWI WIDGEONS STILL REGISTERED (2008/7/20)
2   G-44A      ZK-AVM & ZK-CFA

Grumman J4F
The British name for the Grumman Widgeon. A Gosling is a baby Goose as the Grumman Widgeon was a smaller version of the Grumman Goose. Gosling was later changed to the American Widgeon name to avoid confusion.

WIDGEON ENGINE CONVERSIONS

300hp Lycoming R-680 : Gannet conversion
(Pacific Aircraft Engineering Corp Masandorf Widgeon)
260hp Continental IO-470-D : J.Ray McDermott, Franklin, Tourist Air Travel conversions
260hp Lycoming GO-435 : Singer, Franklin, others
270hp Lycoming GO-480-B1D : Magnum conversion, Turbotech, Kelso, late 80s
350hp Lycoming TIO-540 (T stands for turbocharged)

WIDGEON MODIFICATIONS

1 PIECE WINDSCREEN : enjoy the view
3 BLADED PROPS :    used on the Super Widgeon whose engines are geared so that at takeoff the engines turn 3,400 rpm but the props go much slower, giving more torque and allowing shorter water runs.
DROOP TIPS :   Extend each wing by 2 feet and reduce induced drag.
EMERGENCY ESCAPE HATCH :    Abandon Widgeon!
LARGER DOOR : Making it easier for McDonald's customers to slid in & out by adding a small door above.
MORE SOUND PROOFING :   What did he say?
RETRACTABLE FLOATS :    add about 5 knots cruise but also add weight out on the wing tip and extra maintenance
WIDER CABIN WINDOWS :   Its a lovely view outside.