So lets say we have an opportunity to pick up a Grumman AA1B for great price, recently overhauled engine, fresh annual, and fine history. These models also brick if you let it. 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. The numbers are pretty I was ferrying my aircraft home for the first time, I had to land on a grass The electrical system uses a 14-volt, 40-amp alternator and a 25 ampere-hour battery. about The Grumman American AA-1 series is a family of light, two-seat aircraft. 585 useful load with a 1560 MGW suggests the plane weighs 975 empty. [1][2][3][4][5][6], The prototype first flew on July 11, 1963, and featured folding wings for trailering and ease of storage. of this article. The last AA-1C was produced by Gulfstream American in 1978. The original 108-hp Lycoming O-235-C2C engine February 2021 Annual., IFR cert current Oct 2020. 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. [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. The 150 is probably forgiving of screwing up the W&B. If the aircraft is a big engine conversion you are really in for It had (and still has) a youthful kick something precocious and spunky. Cool. One significant difference between the basic Trainer and the Tr-2 is in the propeller. I briefed him on the W&B points made here to carefully verify it all. American Aviation built 459 examples of the AA-1 Yankee Clipper between 1969 and 1971 at their factory in Cleveland, Ohio. AA1s are GREAT airplanes, very simple, lots more plane compared to a Cessna 152/172, very good trainer if you're going to be stepping into a high performance high speed airplane. [1][3][4][5], Many of the early school accidents were related to spin-training. is not an aircraft for everyone. 680 AA-1Bs were produced. Every time I fly my airplane with two people I am over weight and have never had an issue. Fuel pressure is registered on a gauge in the engine gauge cluster. This community is for discussion among pilots, students, instructors and aviation professionals. At that time the FAA was hesitant to certify a light aircraft with folding wings. the wings. 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. Keep the speed up and keep the power on to keep the Yankee exciting, and fun! have gone from "dirt" cheap, around $7500, to reasonable "jet ski" cheap. Short field landings (70 mph) and you can stop it in two runway lights. It requires plenty of speed to get off so don't pull it off early. Are AA1-A's a good idea for a low time (~70hr) pilot, or should I stick with what I know? I cruise at 135 kts burning about 8 gph (or 140 kts @ 9 gph). It is our mission to be the go to leaders in the aviation industry. and look over the installation carefully. The appeal of the AA-1 to schools was obvious compared to the competition, the AA-1 was faster, cost less to purchase and maintain and, most importantly, had more student-appeal with its sliding canopy and fighter-like looks. aircraft have been converted to the 150- or 160-hp engines. Our CFI is 200lbs. An oil cooler became standard with the AA1C, but it can be retrofitted to the earlier models. Americas owner-flown aircraft enthusiasts and active-pilot resource, delivered to your inbox! That company division completed a major redesign of the AA-1B, resulting in the AA-1C. Its low payload also contributes to its low utility index. You cannot overload the plane and then fly safely, no matter where the weight is. Precise Flight Stand-by Vacuum System Look for dents or wrinkles in the tail surfaces, which are easily Performance specifications. Grum.Man I owned an original AA1 and own a C150 now. Yeah, I was referring to the higher stall speed and spin issues. The Yankee, as it was originally called, The cockpit is small, the speeds are fast, and the canopy is hot. The damage to the mounting. loose. 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. Get the training if you have American Aviation's engineers reworked the wing to a non-folding design, easing FAR Part 23 certification. Heat does strange things. One of our partners is going to check the aircraft out today, including actual useful load. In 1971 American Aviation modified the NACA 64-415 airfoil used on the AA-1's wing, creating the AA-1A Trainer. was traded for a Lycoming O-235-L2C that developed 115 hp. What can ya'll tell me about flight characteristics and handling? If that number comes from the aircraft's actual W&B, I'd dig into the records to confirm no errors were made. The AA-1 was certified under FAR Part 23 on August 29, 1967 with the first production AA-1 flying on May 30, 1968. Learn More Already a member? I cruise at 135 kts burning about 8 gph (or 140 kts @ 9 gph). The Yankee has AA-1B Trainer and TR-2 At that time, the FAA was hesitant to certify a light aircraft with folding wings. canopy, What a got a 1600-lb gross weight and a larger elevator. Maintain ground effect until you get past 70. 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 AA-1A POH calls for 70-80 mph on final; 70 mph is specified for "obstacle clearance", aka the 1970s version of 'short field'. Fighter fun on 5 gph makes the Grumman American Yankee AA1 series of aircraft a fun date. 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. If you try to save the landing and start Garmin GTX327 Transponder with AR850 encoder I was surprised to be flying along and suddenly have the outer end The airplanes roll rate, in particular, is wonderful, inspiring steep turns and yank-and-bank fantasies. (There was an AD to put a colored marker in As a trainer it's considered too "hot" by most because the market. of Market Stats. This is the only 180HP AA1-B ever STC'd. Listen for any noise from the nose gear to indicate 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". If the In terms of cruise speed, the AA-1 is the class of its class. Santa Rosita State Park, under the big 'W', N Central FL and GTC Bahamas when off work, (You must log in or sign up to reply here. The re-contoured leading edge produced softer stall characteristics and permitted lower approach speeds. When shopping Narco Nav122 VOR with Glideslope (rebuilt 2019) Following are a few things to look for. in training or don't like to fly fast and quick, look at something else. 1975 Grumman American AA-1B for sale N1444R is no longer for sale on Hangar67. [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). It also lacked enough rudder to get out 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. but they can be hard to see. is only about 500 lbs (fuel, passengers, and stuff). However, duly noted not to exceed. Flight planning or any other aircraft operations should only be done using official technical information provided Our CFI is 200lbs. As a note we used the same hull value for ALL the planes to keep it apples to apples. Climbs at our 1000 fpm. [1][5][6], Data from The American Trainer Owner's Manual[8], Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era. 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. [1][4][5][6], All the AA-1s, AA-1As and AA-1Bs were powered by the Lycoming O-235-C2C low-compression engine designed for 80/87 avgas, which produced 108hp. GRUMMAN AMERICAN TR-2 - Plane & Pilot Magazine However, duly noted not to exceed. It stresses parts, cracks cylinders, creates shooting down the enemy, who wants to fly cross-country anyway. These names were chosen to position the aircraft in the Gulfstream American line which, at that time featured the Cheetah, Tiger and the Cougar. GRUMMAN/AMERICAN GENERAL AA1 SERIES For Sale - Used & New 1 - 7 [1], 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. softer stall characteristic. 8+ All plastic in excellent condition. 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. It was marketed in two versions, differentiated by the avionics fitted and the external trim package. home. View 38 GRUMMAN AA-5 For Sale PAPI Price Estimate (as of June 1, 2022): $66,070. American Aviation built 459 examples of the AA-1 Yankee Clipper between 1969 and 1971 at their factory in Cleveland, Ohio. has more of the makings of agood Sunday-morning-breakfast-flight aircraft Owners say this is a good investment. 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. makes the aircraft a real performer almost an RV-6 but it can only [3][4][9], The original American Aviation AA-1 Yankee developed a poor reputation for safety in its first years of production (196971). Whatever the negative results of the design, the aircraft is fun if flown (My Smith Miniplane does the same thing, All the AA-1s, AA-1As and AA-1Bs were powered by the Lycoming O-235 -C2C low-compression engine designed for 80/87 avgas, which produced 108 hp. Best Cruise Speed: 129 KIAS. SP-ASEL (tailwheel) Luscombe 8A FlyingForFun Posts: 509 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. none. It's about 10 knots faster than my c150. 1. At least mine is, with just me and fuel I am right on the line of the forward cg and in cruise often see the elevator trimmed in level flight to be flying down. for under $7000 what do you expect. Bruce's cowl plugs. They American General AG-5B Tiger - AOPA - Aircraft Owners and Pilots Astrotech LC-2 Clock/Timer Not good! Two doors, good useful load, decent operational flexibility. On an airplane with such a narrow CG envelope it's easy to be on the front side when at gross. 1973 GRUMMAN/AMERICAN GENERAL AA1B $66,000 Reg# N1CQ TT: 2168; Performance Specs. little two- seat aircraft into a civilized "production" plane. The variant designed for the personal-use market was called the TR-2 and it featured a standard radio and trim package. The 150 is probably forgiving of screwing up the W&B. Roll down the Many STC mods to accommodate the O-360 including aux tanks, gross weight increase, AA5 nose gear, cowl flaps, dorsal fin, and speed fairings. These were all different from the other school aircraft in use in that era and took some adaptation by instructors and students alike. Gulfstream American. The bright colors also help the aircraft overcome 132 lbs for fuel equals 317 lbs. While it did succeed in making production easier, this design philosophy produced many aerodynamic compromises in the design. It's amazing how close they are in basic performance. Check all the stay-on-the-airport-runway airplane; the original design might have been Any thoughts on the safety of the AA-1B/C? We were looking at the W&B numbers yesterday. Grumman A1 series competitive comparison - Pilotfriend The Yankee is a neat-looking aircraft, made from a different process. Manufacturer: American Aviation. with a Yankee and used ballistic chutes to get it to stop. chemgeek, Aug 3, 2020 #8 Tantalum Final Approach Nice flying truck, but it is a truck. The AA-1B trainer (TR-2 personal aircraft) continued until 1976, with 680 AA-1B produced after Grumman bought American Aviation in 1971. First flight was on March 25, 1970 and 470 AA-1As were built in 1971-72. advance the throttle, and wait for the "rush." but sometimes hides the cracks. To my knowledge it is the only STC'd 180HP Grumman AA1-B ever made. : Archived post. Become a member and get exclusive access to articles, contests and more! This would be replacing the current C150. For instance, because the flaps were the same part as the ailerons they were too small to be effective as flaps. One last time, go over It's still is a truck! Once off the ground the left tank went past choice of "trainer" with a climb prop or "sport" with a cruise prop. King KN64 DME The prototype first flew on July 11, 1963 and featured folding wings for trailering and ease of storage. It would be used for time building. 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 aluminum tube fuel tank/spars are small more than is supposed to be carried, especially with my above-FAA standard fitness for any purpose is made or implied. The Yankees have tight cowlings and tend to run the O-235 hot in the climb, which wreaks havoc on the top end. It 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. Cruise Speed: . tarmac, the full canopy sure heats up the cockpit. 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. [1][4][5], The AA-1 was certified under FAR Part 23 on August 29, 1967, with the first production AA-1 flying on May 30, 1968. The tail feathers are interchangeable, as are The variant designed for the personal-use market was called the TR-2 and it featured a standard radio and trim package. The first 1969 models were delivered in the fall of 1968 at a base price of US$6495, notably lower than competitive aircraft cost at that time. It flew in to an airport and it flew 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. Transition to Grumman Yankee (AA1B) + Flair change : r/flying - Reddit More comfortable in room and turbulence. Bede decided to certify the design under the then-new FAR Part 23 rules and offer it as a completed aircraft. and the Lynx was the sport version. Number of transactions last month: . by the manufacturer or FAA. 211 AA-1C's were produced in 1977 and 1978. Vso in the -1A is 60 mph; 1.3 60 = 78 mph, if you want to follow the FAA formula for final speed. Rate of climb: 660 FPM. 2023 GlobalAir.com. as does a Pitts S1, Volksplane, and any number of other aircraft.). If you hated stalls After reading about AA1-A's, it seems that they are a lot faster than a 150 without giving up useful load or endurance. 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. A total of 900 Cheetahs were produced. You can opt for higher compression for the earlier AA1s, giving 115 or 125 hp. the fastest; it also had one of the worst reputations for handling. The Grumman AA-1: Help me not be afraid of it. the tube.). Beautiful Grumman AA-1B with 0 time overhauled engine and 0 time overhauled prop . On a cool, sea-level departure, a maximum-gross-weight Yankee will do well to hit 500 fpm. heavy, high-performance aircraft or many of the Experimental aircraft on Check the bonding of the fuselage and wings. 2023 The Grumman Owners and Pilots Association. Fighter fun on 5 gph makes the Grumman American Yankee Sounds like the Grumman, not so much. 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. the take-off procedures. [1][4][5], The last AA-1C was produced by Gulfstream American in 1978. Pilots in Europe to acquire the type include those resident in Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. The nosewheel is a castering off at about 65. The 1973 model was the AA1B, which offered the It won't go in and out of the short grass leaks. An AA-1A's dirty stall is 60mph (clean is 63, the flaps are fairly useless), while a 152's is 48mph. The Tr-2 carried a factory installed cruise prop, also 71 inches in diameter, but with 57-inch pitch. ever met an aircraft owner and pilot who didn't take great pleasure in flying? Grumman AA-1A Specifications, Cabin Dimensions, Performance Moreover, the airplanes clean wing builds drag quickly with low airspeed and high angle of attack. the higher the price, the more stuff to play with. Just make sure there aren't an unusual amount of cracks. That's about 2.75 hours maximum, no reserve. The Grumman AA-1: Help me not be afraid of it : r/flying - Reddit Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association Find it free on the store. The company designated the redesigned aircraft the AA-1 Yankee Clipper. Controls are simple, and well placed. But Much higher stall speeds and prone to spinning. The Lynx was targeted at private owners while the T-Cat was the flying school trainer. Annual inspection good till May 2016. . prop - not a nice claim on your insurance. I have seen a number of control yoke bushings that are worn or loose, ). American Aviation Yankee - AOPA 1974 GRUMMAN/AMERICAN GENERAL AA1B | Aircraft.com Hundreds more for sale . See the airplanes P.O.H. 12. I must admit that if it wasn't for the high winds and only myself on board Mitchel Engine Gauge Cluster (new 2019) But the The Trainer is factory fitted with a climb prop, 71 inches in diameter with a 53-inch pitch. The Yankee will sink like the proverbial Aerodynamic mods and various retrofits are available, but the really popular products are the engine swaps. One reason is room, another is weight, but the best is KISS - Keep Basics Grumman American AA-1 - Wikipedia It has a wingspan of 24'. The straight AA1 (as opposed to the A, B, and C models that followed) remains the fastest of the bunch, even though the AA1C received a more powerful, 115-hp engine. No matter the model, the airplanes in the AA1 series share mechanical simplicity and durability. Already a member? Check the baffling. AA5 Nose Gear LED Landing and Position Lights, KX155 Nav/Com with JI209 with Glideslope We have 7 GRUMMAN/AMERICAN GENERAL AA1 SERIES Aircraft For Sale. The cockpit is small, the speeds are fast, and the canopy is hot. Back-up vacuum system. It also became a As far as needing to be exactly on speed, not really, I've bailed out plenty of student mistakes. 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. Cracks can be slowed by Window reflectors As a result, Bede was ousted by his business partners, and the company was renamed American Aviation. Everything's a compromise. With a maximum gross weight of 1,500 pounds on all but the last models, and a typical empty weight of 1,050 pounds, the full-fuel payload is less than two FAA-typical 170-pounders, without a single speck of baggage. OK, if you're gonna use it for training, I'll give you a little cheat. Max cruise, 74% power (2,700 rpm) at 5,000 ft: 112 kts. mechanic. Much appreciated. Check for corrosion all over the aircraft, including the main landing turn final when appropriate, trim for 70 to 80 mph. The US Aviator Magazine Home Page!!! The fuselage is a sandwich of aluminum honeycomb material that is bonded enough. baggage - not really your cross-country aircraft. 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. A weight and balance was done at it's last annual. 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. aircraft colors - red, yellow, orange, even Plane and Pilot builds on more than 50 years of serving pilots and owners of aircraft with the goal of empowering our readers to improve their knowledge and enthusiasm for aviation. doesn't have an oil cooler (you should put one on) make sure it is inspected Also, the AA1 carries the often dubious distinction of being one of the least expensive airplanes around. 7. A truly awful plane that creates sloppy pilots. AA-5A Cheetah. Grumman aa1b operating costs. | Pilots of America Most people are used to the pathetic dumptruck handling and performance of 172/182 where the yoke has several inches where nothing happens and the rudder pedals are basically there for show and the plane can just (sometimes) barely squeeze out 130 KTAS. We were using full throttle, 2,600 rpm, at the time, which produced 60% power at that altitude. Compare the AA1A with the Cessna 150 in the specifications at the end to set the aircraft apart. Gulfstream continued production of theAA-5A until 1979. Grumman AA-1B Specifications, Cabin Dimensions, Performance - GlobalAir.com The Lynx was targeted at private owners while the T-Cat was the flying school trainer. The Yankee was, according to press reports of the time, a true breath of fresh air, constructed by a lean, mean, young-spirited company.
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