Resprayed with single stage polyurethane in 2012 . The AA-1B was produced until 1976. The one I helped ferry from Texas to SC last year had only about 480 lb useful load, and when you take the full 132 lb of fuel out of that, it doesn't leave a lot of weight for people and bags. TKM MX11 Comm but they can be hard to see. Subscriptions/Orders: 800-356-7767. American General AG-5B Tiger - AOPA - Aircraft Owners and Pilots Cruise Speed: . stay-on-the-airport-runway airplane; the original design might have been The Yankee will sink like the proverbial You take a plane that was originally equipped with basic VFR instruments, add an oil cooler, transponder, second radio, audio panel, intercom, ADF, oil filter, and associated gauges all in front of the CG and it's going to be nose heavy. Questions/Comments?? 1996 But the "everyman's" status was never achieved. (A bit of trivia: Lycoming says that Aerodynamic mods and various retrofits are available, but the really popular products are the engine swaps. tarmac, the full canopy sure heats up the cockpit. My stuff usually weighs You can opt for higher compression for the earlier AA1s, giving 115 or 125 hp. That company division completed a major redesign of the AA-1B, resulting in the AA-1C. The Tr-2s improvements include the addition of most of the Trainers optional equipment as standard. The Grumman AA-1: Help me not be afraid of it. Over 1770 aircraft were built My gut feel is that your 270 lb buddy is not going to be able to fly with a 200 lb instructor with much more fuel than to go more than once around the pattern and land. Cruises at 160MPH. Cessna. We now cruise 120ktas on 8.gph, and climb from sea level 1000-1500+fpm at max gross, depending on the conditions. a lot of runway to get in the air. The maingear legs are fiberglass. Takeoff distance (50) 1,590. Simple Stupid. Straight and level at 10,500 feet, with a density altitude of 11,500, our true airspeed worked out to 155 mph, according to instrumentation of the plane. (and the flat, plowed fields of the Midwest), I wouldn't have made it out Modifications included a 108-hp engine (instead of the original 65 hp), The certification process was complex and expensive and disagreements arose between Bede and the other shareholders. All rights reserved. enough. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. I said intentionally because when These models also The nose gear on the early AA1 needs to be changed to the AA5 nose gear for Cracks can be slowed by While this did tame the AA-1's sharp stall, it also reduced the cruise speed compared to the original AA-1 by 10mph. It is our mission to be the go to leaders in the aviation industry. (My AA1A had a strange quirk. Look [3][4][9], The original American Aviation AA-1 Yankee developed a poor reputation for safety in its first years of production (196971). If the engine Piper. aircraft colors - red, yellow, orange, even leaks. Aircraft Make and Type: Grumman AA1B Year Model: 1974 Airframe Hours: 2600 Engine Type and Hours: 150HP Lycoming 0320 A2B , 320h SMOH, around 1600h left on the engine. No plans of upgrading just keeping it for a few years and hopefully selling before tbo. 5, and 10 fame) as the Bede 1. should be easy and one-handed. Marc E. Cook, AOPA Pilot, April 1993. The 150 is probably forgiving of screwing up the W&B. So while the Yankee might not be able to get you all the way back to 1968, youll at least have a huge amount of fun trying. With a 585lb useful load, we can take full or nearly full fuel in almost all scenarios. Ceiling: 12,650 FT. Takeoff . hours, and an AD that adds rivets in the control surfaces to protect them Small and cheap to operate, the Yankee had the potential to be better. which allows the control wheel to move up and down. Get the training if you have Fuel capacity was increased from the Traveler's 37 US gallons to 52 gallons, thus increasing its range. Yeah, I was referring to the higher stall speed and spin issues. Still, the AA1s longitudinal stability is modest, requiring more attention to maintain altitude or airspeed that is true of other trainers. Grumman Grumman AA-1B Technical Specifications Exterior Exterior Height: 7 ft 6 in Wing Span: 24 ft 5 in Length: 19 ft 2 in Occupancy Crew: 1 Passengers: 2 Operating Weights Max T/O Weight: 1560 Lb Empty Weight: 975 Lb Fuel Capacity: 22 gal Lb Payload W/Full Fuel: 453 Lb Range Max Range: 350 nm Service Ceiling: 12750 ft Distances The Yankee was, according to press reports of the time, a true breath of fresh air, constructed by a lean, mean, young-spirited company. King KN64 DME To my knowledge it is the only STC'd 180HP Grumman AA1-B ever made. The engine can turn 2700 with no problem, and 2800 for takeoff. The nose comes up but Grumman AA1A 150hp Performance | Pilots of America The certification process was complex and expensive, and disagreements arose between Bede and the other shareholders. Similar Aircraft for Sale 1969 Grumman American AA-1 Yankee 1978 Grumman American AA-5B Tiger 1976 Grumman American AA-5B Tiger 1975 Grumman American AA-5 Traveler 2007 Cirrus SR22-G3 Turbo 1980 Cessna 310R 2009 Cirrus SR22-G3 Turbo 2014 Cirrus The original American AA1 Yankee Clipper came out in 1969, The AA-1 had been spin-tested as part of its certification, but in 1973 the FAA issued Airworthiness Directive 73-13-07 ordering the aircraft placarded against spins. If you stop training with it, you can always set the timing back to stock and re-pitch or change the prop. Beech. For instance, because the flaps were the same part as the ailerons they were too small to be effective as flaps. At that time, the FAA was hesitant to certify a light aircraft with folding wings. aircraft have been converted to the 150- or 160-hp engines. As with all small Grummans, it's castering nose wheel so ground handling is great if adjusted right. Tell me all about the Grumman AA1B | Pilots of America fitness for any purpose is made or implied. damaged by people putting pressure on them. The Grumman light aircraft line was then acquired by Gulfstream Aerospace in 1977 who formed it into their light aircraft division, Gulfstream American, in Savannah, Georgia. Grumman : 1974 Up for sale a nice 74 AA1B. 4489.4 total time, and 923.6 It has 10 gallons aux fuel, an AA5 nose gear, cowl flaps, speed fairings, a back-up vacuum system, Feb 2021 Annual, and more. Pay attention to the airspeed on final, and dont let the airplane land nosewheel first, and itll be almost shamefully easy to get squeakers. Collapsible tow bar. - not The AA-1B trainer (TR-2 personal aircraft) continued until 1976, with 680 AA-1B produced after Grumman bought American Aviation in 1971. [7], All models of the AA-1 accommodate two people in side-by-side seating under a sliding canopy and are noted for their exceptionally light handling. Search our listings for used & new airplanes updated daily from 100's of private sellers & dealers. In 1971 American Aviation modified the NACA 64-415 airfoil used on the AA-1's wing, creating the AA-1A Trainer. As far as needing a super Grumman experienced CFI, not really. if it really was); it wasn't designed for long cross-country. This is a time when more is better. For other uses, see, "The Grumman Yankee Fighter Fun Trainer Price! February 2021 Annual. With an empty weight of about 1000 lbs and a gross of 1500 lbs, the useful External Power Plug The wide-track main landing gear struts are laminated fiberglass for shock absorption, marketed as the "Face Saver" design by American Aviation. to have a "push your Yankee backwards" competition without using a tow bar!). As a result of this philosophy, many parts were interchangeable. Downwind about 90 to 95 and final about 80. Whatever the negative results of the design, the aircraft is fun if flown the wings. Carry power at all times. 2023 The Grumman Owners and Pilots Association. The cockpit is small, the speeds are fast, and the canopy is hot. It was the only runway pointing into the wind, a wind strong The engine is a Lycoming Model O-235-C2C and is rated at 108 horsepower. pleasure quotient is tremendous. With its ultra-reliable 108HP Lycoming O-235-C2C low-compression engine, docile flight characteristics in the stall and sturdy design, the type has been loved for years, although in less numbers across the world than its Cessna and Piper competition.This . That's about 2.75 hours maximum, no reserve. The new variant was named the AA-5A Cheetah and was introduced as a 1976 model in late 1975. The Yankee, as it was originally called, The cockpit is small, the speeds are fast, and the canopy is hot. E-Mail It's still is a truck! These names were chosen to position the aircraft in the Gulfstream American line which, at that time featured the Cheetah, Tiger and the Cougar. ever met an aircraft owner and pilot who didn't take great pleasure in flying? loose. Fax: 941-294-3678. Following the price guides shows that over the past few years the AA1s If you're looking at the manufacturer's old "standard" specs, be advised that in the mid-70's when the AA-1B was built, "standard" was bare-bones stripped (no radios, no gyros, no nothing beyond what 91.205(b) requires for day VFR), and the average plane went out the factory door 50-75 lb heavier than "standard". Buying and Folks in the Grumman Gang mail list could give you detailed performance info. Diamond. This would be replacing the current C150. While the real "rush" may be Limbaugh, this rush is the exhilaration The prototype first flew on July 11, 1963 and featured folding wings for trailering and ease of storage. Ameriking AK-450 ELT with remote switch, Bruce's cabin cover American took over the production and design, trying to turn the exciting The Grumman AA-1: Help me not be afraid of it : r/flying - Reddit a big thing, but more labor costs. I've read that spins can quickly become unrecoverable, so don't. 680 AA-1Bs were produced. American Aviation, by then Grumman, quickly saw that the Yankees quirky handling qualities were hurting sales and set about designing fixes. An average O-320 Lycoming 150-hp burns Look for dents or wrinkles in the tail surfaces, which are easily brick if you let it. Horsepower: 1 x 150 HP. It also became a Transition to Grumman Yankee (AA1B) + Flair change : r/flying - Reddit Fuel quantity is shown in vertical sight gauges on the left and right cabin walls. These were all different from the other school aircraft in use in that era and took some adaptation by instructors and students alike. Nice flying truck, but it is a truck. LED Position Lights Grumman aircraft Traveler Cheetah Tiger Cougar aircraft specifications history and performance The Yankee I have seen a number of control yoke bushings that are worn or loose, Today, the AA1 line remains as two distinctly different types of airplanes the original hot wing Yankee and the later, more docile models. Also, the Tr-2s 64 pounds of instruments, avionics, and decor items limit its useful load (with 22 gallons of fuel) to 389 pounds, while the Trainers payload with the same fuel is 435 pounds. Complete logs. One reason is room, another is weight, but the best is KISS - Keep See the airplanes P.O.H. The long takeoff gives the feeling of being in a fighter. I've read that they're a lot different in flight characteristics though. I'd say the proof is in the insurance pudding. 2.5 with reserve), can go up to 13,500ft (solo, standard temp TESTED). Sliding Over time this philosophy of compromising the aerodynamics in favour of a minimized parts count was abandoned. Roll down the The variant designed for the personal-use market was called the TR-2 and it featured a standard radio and trim package. The AA1 A, B, and C models were the result. Grumman AA-1A Specifications, Cabin Dimensions, Performance leaky gaskets, and shortens engine life. little two- seat aircraft into a civilized "production" plane. Landing distance (50) 1,100. - only One problem with my Yankee was that the bushings in the ailerons came Stall Speed: 50 KIAS. Grumman bought American Aviation in 1971, renaming it Grumman American Aviation and beginning in late 1972 sold the 1973 model year design as the Grumman American AA-1B Trainer for school use. 185 lbs and full fuel of 22 gal. In sheer numbers, the AA1s are barely a blip on the charts compared to the Cessna 150 or even the Piper Tomahawk. 2023 FLYING Media. I think this would be an ideal airplane for me but I'm concerned that it might be more risk than is necessary. However, duly noted not to exceed. AA-5 Traveler & AA-5A Cheetah Competitive Comparison, AA-5B & AG-5B Tiger Competitive Comparison, Instructors- Pilot Familiarization Program. My first flight was after the owner took delivery, I flew it from the right seat. Max cruise, 74% power (2,700 rpm) at 5,000 ft: 112 kts. The original AA-1 had a book cruise speed of 117 knots; the later versions ranged from 107 to 116 knots, depending on whether the plane had a cruise (high pitch) prop and/or wheel pants. American Aviation Yankee - AOPA doesn't include clear space at the ends. In general, everything about the AA1 series is simple. turn final when appropriate, trim for 70 to 80 mph. Legit? If you hated stalls The fuel tanks tails installed. fin and all the paperwork. to remove the nose bowl cowling, it means removing the propeller And the airplane that trotted out to fill this supposedly gaping hole in our aeronautical experience was the American Aviation Yankee. Your current browser cannot run our content, please make sure your browser is fully updated or try one of the browsers below. If that's true, your airplane isn't set up properly -- something an AYA PFPI would have detected right from the start. ADS-B compliant. It was to be an everyman's aircraft: easy But the A recent issue of Trade-A-Plane had listings from $9500 to $25,000. For its high cruise velocities, the AA1 pays dearly in climb performance. have gone from "dirt" cheap, around $7500, to reasonable "jet ski" cheap. That means at least 2100' of runway for the AA1 (takeoff over 50 is 1400'). It won't go in and out of the short grass Also, the AA1 carries the often dubious distinction of being one of the least expensive airplanes around. hold the brake, and the Yankee turns around! Performance data and specificationsfor American Aviation, Grumman American, Gulfstream Aerican and and AmericanGeneral light aircraft. Other changes included adding extended wing tips to improve rate-of-climb, an anti-servo tab on the elevator along with a centering spring system to increase longitudinal stability and stall strips to improve handling during a stall. This machine doesn't like to fly slow; it does like Check the bonding of the fuselage and wings. Fuel Burn @ 75%: 8.5 GPH. But they remain today a great flying bargain, with good reliability, a very good parts outlook, and a cadre of loyal owners. Grumman American. These names were chosen to position the aircraft in the Gulfstream American line which, at that time featured the Cheetah, Tiger and the Cougar. Cruise mph 133. The AA-1C received a new larger horizontal tail and other significant improvements, including a 115 hp Lycoming O-235-L2C high-compression engine designed for 100LL fuel, which brought the cruise speed back up to that of the original 108 hp Yankee. Copyright 2023 Sandhills Global | Reproduction without expressed written consent is forbidden. No BD-1 kits were ever sold. Major mechanical problems are rare with the AA1s, and the number of service difficulty reports is relatively low. The flight in ground effect included a turn to stay away AA-5 Traveler & AA-5A Cheetah Competitive Comparison, AA-5B & AG-5B Tiger Competitive Comparison, Instructors- Pilot Familiarization Program. Backing into the hangar Or you can drop in an O-320 of 150 or 160 hp. Are AA1-A's a good idea for a low time (~70hr) pilot, or should I stick with what I know? fact, it's so bouncy that if you hit the nose gear first, you probably ought fly for about two (yes that was two) hours with reserve. is only about 500 lbs (fuel, passengers, and stuff). Grumman AA-1B Trainer performance and specifications Based at Henderson, NV (KHND). Two other items because the O-235 generally is prone to lead fouling, check the condition of the spark plugs carefully, and look for high oil consumption. The airplanes roll rate, in particular, is wonderful, inspiring steep turns and yank-and-bank fantasies. For example, the redesign of the AA-1B into the AA-1C by Gulfstream involved wider-span elevators and horizontal stabilizers that produced better longitudinal stability, but were no longer interchangeable with the rudder and fin. The Yankee and its four-seater siblings, the AA-5 series, feature a unique bonded aluminum honeycomb fuselage and bonded wings that eliminate the need for rivets without sacrificing strength. 3. The AA-1B was produced until 1976. Most insurance companies will require about ten hours dual before they Become a member and get exclusive access to articles, contests and more! The aluminum tube fuel tank/spars are small ). [1][3][4][5][6], Grumman bought American Aviation in 1971, renaming it Grumman American Aviation, and beginning in late 1972 sold the 1973 model year design as the Grumman American AA-1B Trainer for school use. to set the aircraft apart. Other popular modifications include the addition of a dorsal strake on earlier model AA-1s to improve yaw stability or the addition of a transparent red rudder cap to fair the flashing beacon for reduced drag. [5], In 1971, American Aviation modified the NACA 64-415 airfoil used on the AA-1's wing, creating the AA-1A Trainer. For its high cruise velocities, the AA1 pays dearly in climb performance. A total of 900 Cheetahs were produced. 211 AA-1Cs were produced in 1977 and 1978. pleasure quotient is tremendous. The fuselage is a sandwich of aluminum honeycomb material that is bonded Just make sure there aren't an unusual amount of cracks. are also the wing spars. It really turns into a dog in climb. AA1 series of aircraft a fun date.The Yankee, as it was originally called, Number of transactions last month: . The bright colors also help the aircraft overcome The Tr-2 carried a factory installed cruise prop, also 71 inches in diameter, but with 57-inch pitch. The Grumman American Yankee AA1 series of aircraft requires careful training The main pilot transition issue for AA-1X aircraft (and the AA-5X as well) is carrying too much speed on landing approach, leading to runway overruns. Already a member? I bought mine cheap. It But lets get to the good news first. "TR-2" redirects here. Check these bushings. Every time I fly my airplane with two people I am over weight and have never had an issue. Pilots in Europe to acquire the type include those resident in Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Vso in the -1A is 60 mph; 1.3 60 = 78 mph, if you want to follow the FAA formula for final speed. Bruce's cowl plugs. I wouldn't want to land it over weight but it flys just fine and mine is the original AA1.