Photograph:
Grumman AA-5B Traveler VH-ERP (c/n AA-5-0691) at Narrandera, NSW in April 2006 (David C Eyre)
Country of origin:
United States of America
Description:
Light touring monoplane
Power Plant:
[Traveler] One 112 kw (150 hp) Lycoming O-320-E four-cylinder horizontally-opposed air-cooled engine
(AA-5 Tiger) One 134 kw (180 hp) Lycoming O-360-A4K four-cylinder horizontally-opposed air-cooled engine
Specifications:
- [Tiger]
- Wingspan: 9.6 m (31 ft 6 in)
- Length: 6.7 m (22 ft)
- Height: 2.4 m (8 ft)
- Wing area: 13 m² (140 sq ft)
- Max speed at sea level: 273 km/h (170 mph)
- Cruising speed at 75% power at 2,743 m (9,000 ft): 257 km/h (160 mph)
- Initial rate of climb: 259 m/min (850 ft/min)
- Service ceiling: 4,450 m (14,600 ft)
- Range with no reserve: 1,231 km (765 miles)
- Range with 45 mins reserve: 1,046 km (650 miles)
- Empty weight: 583 kg (1,285 lb)
- Loaded weight: 1,089 kg (2,400 lb)
History:
Designed to supplement the two-seat AA-1 Yankee series of aircraft, the AA-5 Traveler series was a four-seat variant which, although similar in appearance to the earlier models, had been extensively re-designed structurally to take the extra load of two more passengers, and a more powerful 112 kw (150 hp) engine. The prototype of the AA-5 series first flew on 21 August 1970, and over 1,000 examples were built.
Production commenced in late 1971, and was facilitated by the fact that the Trainer and Traveler had nearly two-thirds of their parts in common. Subsequently, Grumman American introduced the Cheetah, which was similar to the Traveler but included various items of equipment that were usually optional on the other models. The Cheetah replaced the Traveler on the production line.
Later, an even more powerful variant appeared in October 1974 known as the Tiger, and deliveries of production Tigers, which was basically the Traveler fitted with a 134 kw (180 hp) engine, began in 1975. The main difference between the two models was the ventral fin on the Traveler. This was not fitted to the Tiger as the latter had a re-designed tailplane to cope with the extra power. Other improvements in later years over the first AA-5 included engine cooling baffles, a long-range fuel tank option, a better exhaust system, re-designed nose strut, and larger tail surfaces.
In 1973 Grumman acquired American Aviation and all aircraft became known as Grumman American. In later years, with name changes, the aircraft was manufactured by Gulfstream American Corporation. Significant improvements were made to the series in the 1970s, these including increased span horizontal tail surfaces, larger rear cabin windows, increased fuel capacity, deletion of the ventral fin and other improvements, the new model becoming known as the AA-5B.
In 1976 the basic series received some aerodynamic improvements, optional extra fuel, and other improvements to increase speed. Base model of the series then became known as the AA-5A, the corresponding higher level of equipment model becoming known as the Cheetah.
In 1990 the American General Aircraft Corporation re-commenced production of a new model known as the AG-5B, this being an AA-5B with some revision. However, only some 100 or so had been completed when production concluded.
Five AA-5s, six AA-5As and three AA-5Bs have been registered in New Zealand. Ten AA-5 Travelers, 17 AA-5B Cheetahs, and 45 AA-5Bs have been registered in Australia.