A history of AA-5B development
American Aviation Corporation was an American aircraft manufacturer based in Cleveland, Ohio. It was established by Jim Bede under the name of Bede Aircraft in the mid-1960s to manufacture and market the Bede BD-1 two seat light aircraft.
During the development of this aircraft there was conflict between Bede and the other shareholders and Bede was removed from the company. The company was renamed American Aviation and the BD-1 was re-designed to become the AA-1 Yankee.
Following American Aviation's success with the AA-1 Yankee Clipper two place light aircraft in 1969, the company decided to produce a four-seat aircraft.
Production of the AA-5 Traveler had just started in 1971 when American Aviation was sold to Grumman and became the Grumman American division.
Grumman continued making the four-seater Traveler, and produced 834 of the planes by 1975, when production of the model ceased.
The AA-5 Traveler, was powered by a Lycoming O-320-E2G engine of 150 hp (110 kW). It would carry four people at 121 knots (224 km/h) cruise speed.
The AA-5B Tiger was the final variant of the AA-5 line. Designed by Grumman engineers, it was first produced in late 1974 as the 1975 model. The aircraft underwent almost continual improvement in subsequent years.
Production continued for another year by Gulfstream when they purchased Grumman's American division in 1978.
Gulfstream ceased production of all piston-engined aircraft in 1979 and the highly successful Tiger design went out of production after 1323 aircraft had been delivered.
Construction details
All models of the AA-5 have four seats under a sliding canopy, which can be partly opened in flight for ventilation.
Entry for all four occupants is from the wing root over the canopy sill.
Compared to competitive aircraft of the same era the AA-5s are noted for their light and pleasant handling characteristics as well as high cruising speed for the installed power.
As derivatives of the original AA-1 Yankee, the AA-5 series share the same unique bonded aluminum honeycomb wing and fuselage that eliminates the need for rivets without sacrificing strength.
The main landing gear is fibreglass with a sprung steel nose gear tube.
There is no nose wheel steering as the nose wheel is free-castering through 180 degrees. Steering is by main wheel differential braking operated by using one's toes to push the tops of the rudder pedals.
Information from Wikipedia
Aircraft Performance Data and Specifications
Seats up to four passengers
Length 22 feet
Wingspan 31 feet 5 inches
Height 8 feet.
Empty weight 1,398 lb.
Payload weight up to 780 lb.
Total gross weight 2,400 lb.
Engine : Lycoming O360-A4K engine, up to 180 horsepower at 2,700 rpm
Speed : At 75 % power, cruising speed of 139 knots (159.96 mph).
Maximum speed 148 knots (170.31 mph)
Minimum stall speed : 53 knots (60.99 mph).
Performance
With 45-minute fuel reserve climb rate of 850 feet per minute (fpm).
Cruising range 554 nautical miles
Cuising altitude 8,500 feet
Maximum altitude 13,800 feet
During the development of this aircraft there was conflict between Bede and the other shareholders and Bede was removed from the company. The company was renamed American Aviation and the BD-1 was re-designed to become the AA-1 Yankee.
Following American Aviation's success with the AA-1 Yankee Clipper two place light aircraft in 1969, the company decided to produce a four-seat aircraft.
Production of the AA-5 Traveler had just started in 1971 when American Aviation was sold to Grumman and became the Grumman American division.
Grumman continued making the four-seater Traveler, and produced 834 of the planes by 1975, when production of the model ceased.
The AA-5 Traveler, was powered by a Lycoming O-320-E2G engine of 150 hp (110 kW). It would carry four people at 121 knots (224 km/h) cruise speed.
The AA-5B Tiger was the final variant of the AA-5 line. Designed by Grumman engineers, it was first produced in late 1974 as the 1975 model. The aircraft underwent almost continual improvement in subsequent years.
Production continued for another year by Gulfstream when they purchased Grumman's American division in 1978.
Gulfstream ceased production of all piston-engined aircraft in 1979 and the highly successful Tiger design went out of production after 1323 aircraft had been delivered.
Construction details
All models of the AA-5 have four seats under a sliding canopy, which can be partly opened in flight for ventilation.
Entry for all four occupants is from the wing root over the canopy sill.
Compared to competitive aircraft of the same era the AA-5s are noted for their light and pleasant handling characteristics as well as high cruising speed for the installed power.
As derivatives of the original AA-1 Yankee, the AA-5 series share the same unique bonded aluminum honeycomb wing and fuselage that eliminates the need for rivets without sacrificing strength.
The main landing gear is fibreglass with a sprung steel nose gear tube.
There is no nose wheel steering as the nose wheel is free-castering through 180 degrees. Steering is by main wheel differential braking operated by using one's toes to push the tops of the rudder pedals.
Information from Wikipedia
Aircraft Performance Data and Specifications
Seats up to four passengers
Length 22 feet
Wingspan 31 feet 5 inches
Height 8 feet.
Empty weight 1,398 lb.
Payload weight up to 780 lb.
Total gross weight 2,400 lb.
Engine : Lycoming O360-A4K engine, up to 180 horsepower at 2,700 rpm
Speed : At 75 % power, cruising speed of 139 knots (159.96 mph).
Maximum speed 148 knots (170.31 mph)
Minimum stall speed : 53 knots (60.99 mph).
Performance
With 45-minute fuel reserve climb rate of 850 feet per minute (fpm).
Cruising range 554 nautical miles
Cuising altitude 8,500 feet
Maximum altitude 13,800 feet