Grumman Mallard

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Grumman Mallard
Sideview of G-73 Turbo Mallard
Type	Amphibious Airliner
Manufacturer	Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation
Maiden flight	30 April 1946
Status	In service
Primary user	Chalk's Ocean Airways (4)
Produced	1946-1951
Number built	59
Unit cost	$115,000

The Grumman G-73 "Mallard" is a large, twin engine amphibious aircraft. Many have been modified by replacing the original Pratt & Whitney Wasp H radial engines with modern turboprop engines. It was manufactured by Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation from 1946 to 1951. Grumman ceased production when the much larger Grumman HU-16 "Albatross" was introduced.

Contents 1 Design and development 2 Operational history 3 Accident History 4 Operators 4.1 Civil operators 4.2 Military operators 5 Specifications (G-73) 6 References 7 External links 8 Related content

[edit] Design and development

Building on the success of the Goose and Widgeon, Grumman Aircraft developed Design 73, the larger "Mallard" for commercial use. Retaining many of the features of the smaller aircraft, such as twin radials, high wings with underwing floats, retractable gear and a large straight tail, the company built 59 Mallards between 1946 and 1951. Unlike the smaller aircraft, the Mallard featured tricycle gear, a stressed skin, two step hull and wingtip fuel tanks.

[edit] Operational history

The Mallard prototype first flew on 30 April 1946, with the first production aircraft entering service in September of that year. While the Mallard was designed for regional airline operations with two pilots and ten passengers especially aimed at harbor-based, city-to-city hops on the eastern seaboard, postwar surplus aircraft sales and the availability of smaller airports limited market potential. A number of smaller air carriers did use the Mallard in its intended role, notably Tahiti-Hawaii Airlines and Pacific Western Airlines (Canada). However, most of the 59 Mallards delivered were for corporate use.

The Mallard received a lease in life in the 1970s when a number of airframes were refitted with Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A turbines to become "Turbo Mallards." Today, through attrition, only 32 Mallards remain registered in the U.S.

[edit] Accident History

The type received much attention after a 1947 Mallard, operating as Chalk's Ocean Airways Flight 101, crashed after takeoff from Miami on 19 December 2005. Eighteen passengers and two crew perished when the right wing separated from the fuselage. See article. The cause of the accident was determined to be cracks and/or corrosion in the wing spar.

Prior to 2005, Chalk's Ocean Airways had an excellent safety record operating Mallards for many years between Florida and the Bahamas.

[edit] Operators

[edit] Civil operators

•  United States: Chalk's Ocean Airways

[edit] Military operators

•  Egypt

[edit] Specifications (G-73)

General characteristics

• Crew: two, pilot and co-pilot
• Capacity: Up to 10 passengers, but executive configurations are mostly applied.
• Length: 48 ft 4 in (14.7 m)
• Wingspan: 66 ft 8 in (20.3 m)
• Height: ()
• Useful load: 3,500 lb (1,588 kg)
• Powerplant: 2× Pratt & Whitney Wasp H , 600 hp (447 kW) each

Performance

• Never exceed speed: 187 Kts
• Range: 1,120 nautical miles (2,070 km)
• Service ceiling: FL245 ()
• Rate of climb: 1350 ft/m ()

[edit] References

• Thruelsen, Richard. The Grumman Story. New York: Praeger Publishers, Inc., 1976. ISBN 0-275-54260-2.

[edit] External links

• New York Times' article about Chalk's accident
• Aircraft Maintenance Technology article about Chalk's accident
• NTSB preliminary report on Chalk's accident DCA06MA010 of 19 December 2005
• Picture of a Chalk's Mallard in Miami in 1996
• History of Chalk's Ocean Airways at answers.com

[edit] Related content

Comparable aircraft

Consolidated Aircraft PBY Catalina - Grumman Albatross

Related lists

List of flying boats