Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. TKM MX11 Comm Rate of climb: 660 FPM. The main cabin structure is made up of aluminum honeycomb panels, which are both quite strong and light, mated to a glued-together monocoque empennage. Sign in to continue reading 1971 Grumman American Trainer AA1A By Staff Updated February 22, 2016 Save Article The lack of wing washout, necessitated by the wing interchangeability requirement, meant that stall strips had to be installed to produce acceptable stall characteristics for certification. OK, if you're gonna use it for training, I'll give you a little cheat. enough. Search our listings for used & new airplanes updated daily from 100's of private sellers & dealers. I am typically at pattern altitude well before the end of the runway! (and the flat, plowed fields of the Midwest), I wouldn't have made it out 4489.4 total time, and 923.6 hours since engine overhaul (July 2006). Simple Stupid. New main tires. Copyright 2023 Sandhills Global | Reproduction without expressed written consent is forbidden. Backing into the hangar Grumman's engineers felt that the AA-5 design had more speed potential than the original Traveler, even with its 1975 improvements, and so embarked on an aerodynamic cleanup and redesign. Sliding 91 or F.A.R 135. View 38 GRUMMAN AA-5 For Sale PAPI Price Estimate (as of June 1, 2022): $66,070. It was marketed in two versions, differentiated by the avionics fitted and the external trim package. The AA-1B trainer (TR-2 personal aircraft) continued until 1976, with 680 AA-1B produced after Grumman bought American Aviation in 1971. to remove the nose bowl cowling, it means removing the propeller Already a member? The nonaerobatic, and stay-at-the-airport dimensions. 6. but also makes parking in tight places a breeze. Of course, The real "rush" a pilot gets is from how much he enjoys flying. The Lynx was targeted at private owners while the T-Cat was the flying school trainer. runway and at 60 indicated, start lifting the nose. 2023 The Grumman Owners and Pilots Association. The bright colors also help the aircraft overcome Check all the ever met an aircraft owner and pilot who didn't take great pleasure in flying? [5], In 1971, American Aviation modified the NACA 64-415 airfoil used on the AA-1's wing, creating the AA-1A Trainer. [1][5][6], Data from The American Trainer Owner's Manual[8], Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era. It was the only runway pointing into the wind, a wind strong Up for sale a nice "74 Grumman AA1B. I never flew mine intentionally 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. Window reflectors The engine can turn 2700 with no problem, and 2800 for takeoff. Don't get behind the "power curve." It has 10 gallons aux fuel, an AA5 nose gear, cowl flaps, speed fairings, a back-up vacuum system, Feb 2021 Annual, and more. 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 New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. Yeah, I was referring to the higher stall speed and spin issues. 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. hold the brake, and the Yankee turns around! 9. tarmac, the full canopy sure heats up the cockpit. (My Smith Miniplane does the same thing, Fax: 941-294-3678. 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. fitness for any purpose is made or implied. It's still is a truck! Verify that the stuff under the cowl and behind the propeller works. Bede decided to certify the design under the then-new FAR Part 23 rules and offer it as a completed aircraft. Questions: 941-294-6396. While it seemed a dramatic risk at the time, the AA1s unusual bonded-aluminum structure has proven to be a good choice. Scan this QR code to download the app now. 132 lbs for fuel equals 317 lbs. In keeping with its namesake it was six knots (seven mph) faster than the Traveler with the same 150 hp (110 kW) Lycoming O-320-E2G powerplant. of this article. External Power Plug Collapsible tow bar. The timing can be set back to 20deg, and the prop can be twisted to ~52/53" pitch and the take off at high weight will be a lot more crisp. On handling qualities, what follows is either good news or bad, depending upon your point of view. My stuff usually weighs The re-contoured leading edge produced softer stall characteristics and permitted lower approach speeds. The ailerons and flaps were similarly the same part. In 1968, as during many periods in general aviations life, a few dreamers believed the sport had moved away from the elemental, the basic stick-and-rudder flying, away from the sheer fun of flight. All rights reserved. Inspect the seal around the windshield and check out the locks. The long takeoff gives the feeling of being in a fighter. to have a "push your Yankee backwards" competition without using a tow bar!). King KN64 DME Stall Speed: 50 KIAS. . Get extra lift from AOPA. is only about 500 lbs (fuel, passengers, and stuff). 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. Some older AA1s have had newer and the Yankee model continued through 1971. On an airplane with such a narrow CG envelope it's easy to be on the front side when at gross. Garmin GTX327 Transponder with AR850 encoder Most all of my time is in 150s/172s, with a few hours in a Cherokee. I cannot begin to tell you how much fun it is to fly. At that time, the FAA was hesitant to certify a light aircraft with folding wings. One problem with my Yankee was that the bushings in the ailerons came Fighter fun on 5 gph makes the Grumman American Yankee Econ . The fuel gauges are sight tubes in the cockpit. If it's hot, look for more or stay home! The wide-track main landing gear struts are laminated fiberglass for shock absorption, marketed as the "Face Saver" design by American Aviation. At about 65 mph the Make sure they work, are not plugged, and that The last AA-1C was produced by Gulfstream American in 1978. The fuel system consists of two tanks with a total capacity of 24 gallons, of which 22 gallons is usable. American Aviation, by then Grumman, quickly saw that the Yankees quirky handling qualities were hurting sales and set about designing fixes. Bede formed a company, Bede Aviation Corporation, based in Cleveland, Ohio, to produce the aircraft, but the BD-1 never entered production as a certified aircraft. Produced between 1973 and 1976, the AA1B is also the most numerous of the series, with 680 coming off the factory floor. 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. ADS-B compliant. Employing bonded-metal technology for rivetless wing skins, the AA1 carried the promise of greater performance for the power, as well as simpler maintenance, quicker building, and greater strength. That leaves 183 lbs for passengers and A lot of the higher-priced Most of the structure is made up of formed aluminum glued to conventional structural members; think of the glue as replacing rivets, and you get the idea. 680 AA-1Bs were produced. [1] Overall, 1820 AA-1 family aircraft were built between 1969 and 1978. Never try to do it yourself - even if you are a mechanic It climbs like a bat out of hell and has a service ceiling of 21,000 feet! If you need to repair things near the prop (not much clearance) and you have The ailerons and flaps The fin and horizontal stabilizers were interchangeable, as were the rudder and the elevators. 12. The 1974 year's production was taken over by Grumman American who were instrumental in producing the AA-1C Lynx and T-Cat in 1977. Fighter fun on 5 gph makes the Grumman American Yankee AA1 series of aircraft a fun date. STC SA5987SW Fairing Speed Kit STC SA7974SW Wheel Fairings Performance specifications. STC SA789NW 180HP Conversion with Cowl Flaps Its low payload also contributes to its low utility index. Concord RG25X Sealed Battery conversion On a cool, sea-level departure, a maximum-gross-weight Yankee will do well to hit 500 fpm. Downwind about 90 to 95 and final about 80. home. Changes were made to the engine cowling and baffling to reduce cooling drag, the exhaust system was redesigned, the main landing gear fairings were further improved, the ventral fin was eliminated, and the horizontal tail was enlarged to allow a larger center of gravity range. 2.5 with reserve), can go up to 13,500ft (solo, standard temp TESTED). Dual ANR 12v power jacks to determine, take a very careful look at all the seams and edges. The AA1B has a basic useful load of more than 450 pounds. Your current browser cannot run our content, please make sure your browser is fully updated or try one of the browsers below. Many STC mods to accommodate the O-360 including aux tanks, gross weight increase, AA5 nose gear, cowl flaps, dorsal fin, and speed fairings. We were using full throttle, 2,600 rpm, at the time, which produced 60% power at that altitude. The original Yankee, running with all the gusto a 108-horsepower Lycoming O-235 can muster, turns in outstanding cruise speeds. from separation. The book calls for 117 knots at 75-percent power, burning 6.3 gallons per hour. First flight was on March 25, 1970 and 470 AA-1As were built in 197172. of my aileron lift up a couple of inches at the hinge point. and look over the installation carefully. camouflage - anything Initial climb rate 660. Bede was ousted and the company was renamed and reorganized as American Aviation. Try to lookinside the cowling and in the cockpit at the construction. Cool. few changes that also changed the model names. Maintain ground effect until you get past 70. 2023 Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, Avg. But the handling is just something that really sticks for me. should be easy and one-handed. Vso in the -1A is 60 mph; 1.3 60 = 78 mph, if you want to follow the FAA formula for final speed. STC SA1012NW Aeromod Corp. Auxiliary Fuel 10 gal with Gross Weight increase to 1642 Lb. For those sunny day joy riders, the AA1s light controls and quick reflexes make for a delightful session at the yoke. : It won't go in and out of the short grass AA-5 Traveler & AA-5A Cheetah Competitive Comparison, AA-5B & AG-5B Tiger Competitive Comparison, Instructors- Pilot Familiarization Program. It didn't have a transponder and it didn't have good paint, but Diamond. Moreover, the airplanes clean wing builds drag quickly with low airspeed and high angle of attack. I did look at the NTSB database, and it looks like most fatals over the past decade were related to fuel management, which is not unique to any airframe. The airplanes roll rate, in particular, is wonderful, inspiring steep turns and yank-and-bank fantasies. Due to the use of a non-tapered tubular spar, which doubled as the fuel tank, and the lack of wing washout, the wings could be exchanged left and right. While this did tame the AA-1's sharp stall, it also reduced the cruise speed compared to the original AA-1 by 10 mph. the fastest; it also had one of the worst reputations for handling. The canopy, which helps make the Yankee image, also gets cracks and Much higher stall speeds and prone to spinning. If I was going somewhere the AA1 would be my choice. (My AA1A had a strange quirk. all O-235 engines produce 115 hp at 2650 rpm. JPI Fuel Scan 450 Fuel Flow Computer for a Yankee take into account the construction. Low stability and high stall speeds 60 knots clean and 57 knots with full flaps combine to make the AA1 wholly unlike the Cessna 150 in the traffic pattern. One thing to always remember about the Yankee, whatever model, is 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 AA1 series of aircraft a fun date.The Yankee, as it was originally called, Lycoming O-235s may be thrifty but they also run hot. Plane and Pilot expands upon the vast base of knowledge and experience from aviations most reputable influencers to inspire, educate, entertain and inform. Most modern AA1's are going to be nose heavy. It flew in to an airport and it flew Beech. Ceiling 11,550. Best Range (i): 503 NM. was traded for a Lycoming O-235-L2C that developed 115 hp. I want something to build hours in - mostly sightseeing and short cross countries. AYA's Safety Director, Bob Reed, gets introduced to - and comes to grips with - the AA-1 Join Us | Member Benefits |News| Events |Contact Us. It also became a better, but it was not to be. but sometimes hides the cracks. The Grumman American AA-1 series is a family of light, two-seat aircraft. We were looking at the W&B numbers yesterday. 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. pleasure quotient is tremendous. Astrotech LC-2 Clock/Timer [1][4][5], The last AA-1C was produced by Gulfstream American in 1978. of to make a go-around right away. The nose gear on the early AA1 needs to be changed to the AA5 nose gear for The three of us range weigh 170/210/270. by knowledgeable pilots. the pilot was behind the airplane. Flight planning or any other aircraft operations should only be done using official technical information provided I recently sat down with a broker going over a whole list of models I was interested in and this is what I got as a VFR 100ish hr guy. 22 gal, which should mean a range of about 4.4 hours at 5 gph. Mitchel Engine Gauge Cluster (new 2019) (i.e. full and the right gauge went under empty.) Short field landings (70 mph) and you can stop it in two runway lights. If you don't have the extended is not an aircraft for everyone. And the airplane that trotted out to fill this supposedly gaping hole in our aeronautical experience was the American Aviation Yankee. are also the wing spars. Keep the speed up and keep the power on to keep the Yankee But the "everyman's" status was never achieved. Join Us | Member Benefits |News| Events |Contact Us. Check for corrosion all over the aircraft, including the main landing Have a good AD search done. The variant designed for the personal-use market was called the TR-2 and it featured a standard radio and trim package. 5, and 10 fame) as the Bede 1. The electrical system uses a 14-volt, 40-amp alternator and a 25 ampere-hour battery. runway that has about 1.5 times the takeoff distance over a 50' obstacle. and 60 with flaps; not a big difference in speed, but the airplane does have The Yankee has an AD on the nose gear. If you hated stalls No matter the model, the airplanes in the AA1 series share mechanical simplicity and durability. with a Yankee and used ballistic chutes to get it to stop. 10. the take-off procedures. As a result, Bede was ousted by his business partners, and the company was renamed American Aviation. The aircraft was designed purely to fill the role of a personal transportation and touring aircraft and not a trainer, but many of the early production models were purchased by flying schools. 11. American Aviation's engineers reworked the wing to a non-folding design, easing FAR Part 23 certification. The AA1 A, B, and C models were the result. Grumman's engineers felt that the AA-5 design had more speed potential than the original Traveler, even with its 1975 improvements, and so embarked on an aerodynamic cleanup and redesign. I briefed him on the W&B points made here to carefully verify it all. have the fuel tank STCs. Most instructors prefer teaching in a Cessna, but there are some more experienced Plus, when you get into those tight parking spots all you do is taxi in, That A recent issue of Trade-A-Plane had listings from $9500 to $25,000. that it likes pavement and it likes runway. Some people have tons of experience in all sorts of planes and can feel their way into flying a new type. Every time I fly my airplane with two people I am over weight and have never had an issue. - not There is also an AD on the engine oil pump at 2000 These names were chosen to position the aircraft in the Gulfstream American line which, at that time featured the Cheetah, Tiger and the Cougar. ). Heat does strange things. It has a wingspan of 24'. Stall Speed (dirty): 52 kts: Range: 348 nm : . 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. but I did not realize the Yankee/Traveler was included. The Grumman AA-1: Help me not be afraid of it. SportPlane Resource Guide!!! I carried 75-80 mph on final (no more) for normal landings. 1971 Grumman American Trainer AA1A - Plane & Pilot Magazine This is the 1st of your 3 free articles Become a member for unlimited website access and more. USA's Today, the AA1s failure in the trainer market is a blessing in disguise, because fewer of the airplanes have been exposed to the ravages of primary training. Basically similar to the Trainer in terms of airframe and engine, the Tr-2 was intended to satisfy either the pilot who requires an advanced trainer or a more deluxe sports plane. more than is supposed to be carried, especially with my above-FAA standard Over time this philosophy of compromising the aerodynamics in favour of a minimized parts count was abandoned. 1977 saw the biggest changes. Archived post. Once the AA-1 entered a fully developed spin and exceeded three turns, it was usually not recoverable. for approved maneuvers. fly for about two (yes that was two) hours with reserve. and look for the clearing at the end of the runway. aircraft have been converted to the 150- or 160-hp engines. Discussion in 'Flight Following' started by samiamPA, Aug 3, 2020. Are AA1-A's a good idea for a low time (~70hr) pilot, or should I stick with what I know? [5], The type certificate for the AA-1 family of aircraft is currently held by True Flight Holdings LLC who bought the assets of Tiger Aircraft on August 2, 2007. The family includes the original American Aviation AA-1 Yankee Clipper and AA-1A Trainer, the. After reading about AA1-A's, it seems that they are a lot faster than a 150 without giving up useful load or endurance. 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. ADS-B compliant. Fuel Burn at 75% power in standard conditions per hour. The original American AA1 Yankee Clipper came out in 1969, AA-1B Trainer and TR-2 The AA-1A POH calls for 70-80 mph on final; 70 mph is specified for "obstacle clearance", aka the 1970s version of 'short field'. The engine is a Lycoming Model O-235-C2C and is rated at 108 horsepower. dangerous for the inexperienced) that would roll over on a wing if That's about 2.75 hours maximum, no reserve. This, of course, makes the Yankees real hot rods, with initial climb rates in excess of 1,200 fpm and cruise speeds in the 130-knot range. On hot days or with high density altitudes you can forget it though. Strip, inspect, and repaint. require about the same distances, same fuel burn, etc. a lot of runway to get in the air. aircraft colors - red, yellow, orange, even Much higher stall speeds and prone to spinning. 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. The numbers are pretty Im assuming he is referring to the rumors that swirl around that if you get too slow they fall out of the sky and if you get in to spin it is not recoverable. Sounds like the Grumman, not so much. to the Good Stuff!!! New fiberglass tail cone. 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. While this did tame the AA-1's sharp stall, it also reduced the cruise speed compared to the original AA-1 by 10mph. This community is for discussion among pilots, students, instructors and aviation professionals. It's much more capable operating out of shortish grass strips and for sight seeing. a big thing, but more labor costs. The Yankee was originally designed in 1962 by Jim Bede as the BD-1 and was intended to be sold as a kit-built aircraft. The nose comes up but Easy flying for the high-performance pilot. Mysteries Of Flight: The Curious Case Of Pan Am Flight 914, Fond Farewell to a Titan: The Antonov An-225. advance the throttle, and wait for the "rush." AA-5 Traveler & AA-5A Cheetah Competitive Comparison, AA-5B & AG-5B Tiger Competitive Comparison, Instructors- Pilot Familiarization Program. The aircraft is cute, usually painted (from the factory) in bright, unusual Simplicity is the word. FMI: Airedale Press Inc., 3000 21st St-NW, Winter Haven, When shopping American Aviation built 459 examples of the AA-1 Yankee Clipper between 1969 and 1971 at their factory in Cleveland, Ohio. American Aviation. The cabin lighting proved to be excellent, with its variable intensity lights. Don't go anywhere without the STC papers approving the conversion Description. about While this did tame the AA-1's sharp stall, it also reduced the cruise speed compared to the original AA-1 by 10 mph. Also, the AA1 carries the often dubious distinction of being one of the least expensive airplanes around. Don't overload them, and make sure it has a climb prop unless you fly solo all the time. Controls are simple, and well placed. Folks in the Grumman Gang mail list could give you detailed performance info. It really turns into a dog in climb. Whatever the negative results of the design, the aircraft is fun if flown The maingear legs are fiberglass. It's just less forgiving than the cessna, that said if you can't fly the Grumman you shouldn't be flying. After seeing lots of Grumman AA1-A's though, I got interested. All of the AA-1's, AA-1A's and AA-1B's were powered by the Lycoming O-235-C2C low-compression engine, designed for 80/87 Avgas, which produced 108 hp. Although this is difficult Big engines should ). Thanks for dropping by and resurrecting a 2yo thread that no one probably cares about any more! Check the baffling. to set the aircraft apart. Grumman sold its light aircraft division to Gulfstream Aerospace in 1978 and the division was renamed Gulfstream American. Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association Find it free on the store. Beautiful Grumman AA-1B with 0 time overhauled engine and 0 time overhauled prop . But if you think The AA-1B was produced until 1976. Not good! As long as you don't put a bunch of weight behind the seats it's fine, you'll just eat up more runway. The family includes the original American Aviation AA-1 Yankee and AA-1A Trainer, the Grumman American AA-1B Trainer and TR-2, plus the Gulfstream American AA-1C Lynx and T-Cat. While it did succeed in making production easier, this design philosophy produced many aerodynamic compromises in the design. We have 7 GRUMMAN/AMERICAN GENERAL AA1 SERIES Aircraft For Sale. It would be used for time building. Range 463. JPI EDM-700 Engine Monitor Our CFI is 200lbs. Questions/Comments?? This would be replacing the current C150. Brand new Bruce's cover included. The Yankee is a neat-looking aircraft, made from a different process. Start your free trial today! But while chasing birds and For its high cruise velocities, the AA1 pays dearly in climb performance. Americas owner-flown aircraft enthusiasts and active-pilot resource, delivered to your inbox! 8. I think they fit everything for my mission perfectly but with a family I am trying to figure out if it is more of a risky platform. I must admit that if it wasn't for the high winds and only myself on board LED Position Lights 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 . The prototype first flew on July 11, 1963 and featured folding wings for trailering and ease of storage. These models also but they can be hard to see. close! GlobalAir.com is your partner in connecting you with relevant information and resources. [1][3][4][5][6], The remaining accidents were generally attributed to the AA-1's short endurance (3.3 hours), inability to use short grass strips and high approach speeds (8590mph).