Today’s Top Pick is a 1976 Grumman American AA-5A Cheetah.

When a Grumman American Cheetah—or a Yankee, Traveler, or Tiger—shows up at the airport, I immediately begin to think about the aircraft’s interesting history.

While its design evolved from the late Jim Bede’s kitbuilt two-seater BD-1, a number of companies produced the Cheetah and its siblings over the years, including the business jet powerhouse Gulfstream.

The compact Grumman Americans are fairly basic aircraft, with fixed gear and fixed-pitch propellers, but they are known for surprisingly high cruising speeds and overall performance. The 108 hp Tiger, which is the most powerful version of the AA-5 airframe, is known to  keep pace with some 200 hp retractables.

For many pilots, the simple, reliable and fuel-efficient design lies in a sweet spot. The Cheetah provides good traveling performance and responsive handling that  give it a sporty, higher-performance feel. Add the signature sliding canopy, and you have the stuff of fighter-pilot fantasies.     

This 1976 Cheetah has 2,650 hours on the airframe, 380 hours on its 150 hp Lycoming O-320 E2G engine since overhaul and 372 hours on the propeller since overhaul. The aircraft is equipped with a Challenger air filter.

The panel includes a Garmin GTR 200 Comm radio, Narco NAV-121 with localizer and glideslope, Apollo II GPS, King KT 76A transponder, uAvionix TailBeacon with ADS-B Out, and an EGT instrument.

Pilots searching for a fun-to-fly, versatile and economical four-place aircraft that can handle training, local flights and cross-country travel should consider this 1976 Grumman American AA-5A Cheetah, which is available for $69,000 on AircraftForSale.

If you’re interested in financing, you can do so with FLYING Finance. Use its airplane loan calculator to calculate your estimated monthly payments. Or, to speak with an aviation finance specialist, visit flyingfinance.com.

• FLYING Magazine: Approachable Aircraft: Grumman AA-5 Series
• FLYING Magazine: Flying Lessons: When Cheetahs Were Fast
• FLYING Magazine: Tiger Is Back
• FLYING Magazine: Air Compare: Grumman AA-5 vs. Mooney M20 Series
• Plane & Pilot: Gulfstream American Cheetah
• Plane & Pilot: This Incredible Plane: Bede BD-1
• The Aviation Consumer: Grumman Tiger/Cheetah

The post This 1976 Grumman American AA-5A Cheetah Is a Compact, Efficient ‘Aircraft For Sale’ Top Pick appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Today’s Top Pick is a 1976 Grumman American AA-5A Cheetah.

The innovative Grumman American series of piston singles are appealing for their history alone, with aviation pioneers Jim Bede and Roy LoPresti involved in their development. In the early 1960s Bede designed the BD-1, a kitbuilt two-seater that later developed into the AA-1 Yankee and the rest of the AA line that included the Cheetah. The aircraft featured bonded wing skins and other aerodynamic aides that helped them eke out higher cruising speeds than one might expect.

The Cheetah and other Grumman derivatives have a following among pilots who love their responsive handling, economical operation and, of course, sliding canopy. These airplanes are the winged equivalent of compact sports cars that are known more for fun than horsepower.

This Grumman American Cheetah has 3,236 hours on the airframe and 1,847 hours on its engine since overhaul. The panel features a Garmin GNC 250XL GPS, Narco CP 125 audio panel, King KY 197 Com, dual Narco Navs, Garmin Aera GPS, Narco AT 50 transponder, and  four-place intercom.

Pilots intrigued by the notion of enjoying sporty styling and performance from the same economical, reliable engine used in the Cessna 172 should consider this 1976 Grumman American AA-5A Cheetah, which is available for $60,000 on AircraftForSale.

You can arrange financing of the aircraft through FLYING Finance. For more information, email info@flyingfinance.com.

• FLYING Magazine: Approachable Aircraft: Grumman AA-5 Series
• FLYING Magazine: Air Compare: Grumman AA-5 vs. Mooney M20 Series
• Plane & Pilot: Grumman American Trainer
• Plane & Pilot: Grumman American TR-2
• The Aviation Consumer: Grumman Tiger/Cheetah

AVweb: Buying A Used Aircraft: Grumman Tiger/Cheetah

The post This 1976 Grumman American AA-5A Cheetah Is a Pioneering ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Today’s Top Pick is a 1974 Grumman American AA-5 Traveler.

The Grumman American AA-5 Traveler and the rest of the company’s AA series began with the Bede 1, a kit aircraft developed by renowned and controversial designer James Bede. American Aviation acquired the design and later became part of Grumman. Grumman American developed a line of general aviation aircraft ranging from the two-seat Yankee and TR-2 trainer with Lycoming O-235 engines to the performance-oriented Tiger with a 180 hp O-360.

The AA-series airplanes are known for delivering stronger performance than many pilots would expect based on their power. Their notable cruise speeds and fuel economy stem in part from their bonded wing skins, which use strong honeycomb structures and no rivets, resulting in a durable, smooth, and aerodynamically clean surface. While the AA trainer aircraft proved a bit too sporty for many students, they appealed to experienced pilots seeking responsive handling. Today the AAs have a following but can often be found at bargain prices. 

This 1974 Grumman Traveler has 3,521 hours on the airframe and three hours on its 160 hp Lycoming O-320 engine since overhaul. The airplane has both a new Sensenich propeller and ducting for its heater and defroster. The panel includes a Garmin GNS 430, King KY197 transceiver, Garmin/Apollo SL70 transponder, Davtron M800 digital clock, Century autopilot, PS Engineering PMA 6000M audio panel, UAvionix ADS-B beacon, and FL202D digital fuel gauge. The aircraft also has a four-place intercom and four USB charging outlets.

Pilots looking for a compact, innovative, and economical four-place traveling aircraft with responsive handling should consider this 1974 Grumman American AA-55 Traveler, which is available for $95,000 on AircraftForSale.

You can arrange financing of the aircraft through FLYING Finance. For more information, email info@flyingfinance.com.

• FLYING Magazine: Approachable Aircraft: Grumman AA-5 Series
• FLYING Magazine: Air Compare: Grumman AA-5 vs. Mooney M20 Series
• FLYING Magazine: Garmin’s Retrofit Autopilot STCed for Additional Aircraft Models
• Plane & Pilot: Grumman American TR-2
• The Aviation Consumer: Panel Planner 101: Grumman – Light IFR
• The Aviation Consumer: Grumman Tiger/Cheetah

The post This 1974 Grumman American AA-5 Traveler Is a Compact, Fast, and Efficient ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Today’s Top Pick is a 1977 Grumman American AA-5B Tiger.

When military contractor Grumman started building light general aviation aircraft, it focused, in part, on giving pilots more for less by offering the four-seat Tiger at a relatively low price while making it faster than many of its competitors.  Reviewers pointed out that the new aircraft’s performance left most competing fixed-gear models in the dust while challenging some four-seat retractables.

Grumman’s design incorporated a number of features that turned up on Cirrus decades later, including streamlined, fixed landing gear and a free-castering nose wheel. A sliding canopy eased ingress and egress while providing better visibility than many competitors. With a 180 hp Lycoming O-360, it could cruise at nearly 140 knots, which was fast among fixed-gear singles.

This Tiger has 3,512 hours on the airframe and 1,431 hours on its 180 hp engine since overhaul. Inside the cowling  there’s also a new engine-driven fuel pump, new carburetor, ignition module, engine baffles, Skytec starter, regulator and alternator, spark plugs, and battery. Upgraded lighting includes new LED landing, navigation, strobe, and rotating beacon lights.

The panel includes an Avidyne IFD 550, GFC 500 autopilot, dual Garmin G5s, WX 500 Stormscope, MVP-50 engine monitor, and Trig transponder with ADS-B.

Pilots looking for an economical four-seater with brisk performance and sharp aesthetics should consider this 1977 Grumman American AA-5B Tiger, received new paint and interior in 2019 and is available for $175,000 on AircraftForSale.

You can arrange financing of the aircraft through FLYING Financial Group. For more information, email info@flyingfinancial.com.

• FLYING Magazine: Approachable Aircraft: Grumman AA-5 Series
• FLYING Magazine: Air Compare: Grumman AA-5 vs. Mooney M20 Series
• FLYING Magazine: Aftermarket Stars Part 2: Great Used Planes for Less
• Plane & Pilot: 1979 Grumman American AA-5B Tiger

The post Today’s Top Aircraft For Sale Pick: 1977 Grumman American AA-5B Tiger appeared first on FLYING Magazine.