Goodyear GA-2 "Duck"
Model Airplane News Cover Art for November, 1947
by Jo Kotula
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The Goodyear GA-2 Duck was a 1940s American three-seat light amphibian built by the Goodyear Aircraft Corporation. The design team included David Thruston, who later developed several other light seaplanes including: the Colonial Skimmer, Lake Buccaneer, Thruston Teal and Seafire. Only 19 aircraft were built and these were used as only for testing and as demonstrators.

  

Goodyear GA-2 "Duck"
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The Goodyear Aircraft Corporation began to design a small and 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 stablizing 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. 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. 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 built.

Here is a video of the Goodyear GA-2 "Duck" in action:

Click Here for more information about the Goodyear GA-2 "Duck". If you want even more detail about the Goodyear Amphibians, you may write to Don Trunick (P.O. Box 232, Green, Ohio 44232-0232) and request a copy of a paper that he wrote for the American Aviation Historical Society. They charge $10 for the article.

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