Grumman American AA-5A Cheetah
Grumman American · United States · first flew 1975 · light aircraft
The Grumman American AA-5A Cheetah is the 150 hp four-seat member of the AA-5 family, slotting between the original 150 hp Traveler and the high-performance AA-5B Tiger, sharing the family's hallmark sliding canopy and bonded construction.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 6.71 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Four-seat low-wing single with a distinctive sliding bubble canopy — the defining feature of the AA-5 family
- Lycoming O-320 developing 150 hp, offering improved performance over the original AA-5 Traveler
- Bonded aluminium construction with smooth rivet-free skin panels visible on close inspection
Shares the AA-5 family's sliding canopy — the single most distinctive recognition feature; the Cheetah's conventional O-320 engine cowl is shorter and rounder than the Tiger's O-360 installation.
Specifications
- The Grumman American AA-5A Cheetah has a length of 6.71 m (22 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 9.6 m (31 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 241 km/h (150 mph).
- Typical crew: 1 pilot + up to 3 passengers.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Introduced in 1975 as a refinement of the AA-5 Traveler, the Cheetah was produced by Grumman American and subsequently Gulfstream American until 1979. The sliding canopy and bonded construction distinguished the entire AA-5 family from conventional light aircraft of the era.
Variants
AA-5A Cheetah; Tiger American and American General Aircraft Corporation later offered updated versions after purchasing the type certificate.
Where you'll see it
Popular in US flight training and private use; a number were exported to the UK and Europe where the type is an occasional visitor to GA airfields.
Related aircraft
- Grumman American AA-5 Tiger
- Beechcraft Skipper
- Cessna 404 Titan
- Nippi NP-100 Albatross
- Piper PA-28 Archer
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