Grumman Tiger Aircraft Introduction wit David Duvak

[@tamugrad2007]

Did almost all my initial flight training in Cheetahs at Fletcher Aviation in Houston in the late 80s/early 90s. Very forgiving and very easy to fly. Super fun airplanes.

[@jonwilliam3597]

Some items were missed or incorrect in this video. Firstly thousands of students in the UK trained on AA5A's or Cheetah. 4 of the largest and most professional training school in the UK used them. It is important that all users are aware of the torsion bar nose leg and avoid touching down on this first or a ground loop could result, and an inexperienced pilot may try to control land instead of applying full power and going round again. he failed to mention the stall warning buzzer vane mounted on the leading edge of the wing which gives a strong buzzer warning and is usually checked when checking the lights and pitot heat with battery master on. The walk around would usually start from the left or captains side and continue around the aircraft. After each flight I would recommend lifting the engine cowling and checking around for any loose hoses, electrical connections and leaks. The metal strips on the end of the wing tips were originally designed to stop the reflection from strobe lights on night flights or in IFR and have little or no effect on providing more lift. This is a great fixed prop. fixed under carriage aircraft, can be used on short rough grass strips, but I wouldn't recommend this with wheel spats in place. A comfortable cruise is around 120-125 knots and it would depend on the day if you could fill tanks and have 4 people on board. It stalls with easy recovery with a small left wing drop. Visibility is very good and apart from the nose wheel there are no particular vices. It handles crosswinds well and a crab approach is recommended as opposed to wing down and crossed controls at low level. The landing and the sensitive nose wheel is the only thing to be aware of with this truly underrated aircraft. I have flown over 1000 hrs. in an AA5B and around 400 in a AA5A and over 1000 hrs. in a GA7 Cougar. I love them. I have done the Malta Air Rally leaving from Biggin Hill near London 3 times in these Grumman's and one trip into N. Africa and countless trips into Europe and I think for the money they offer the best all round value and fun experience. Such a shame they are not made now.

[@mostlyboring]

Actually the AA5 was the Traveler, which had the 150HP powerplant. The AA5A was the Cheetah with the 160HP. Finally the Tiger with the 180HP.

[@jasonellingson883]

AA-5 Traveler and AA-5A Cheetah are both 150 HP. The difference between the two are the size of their horizonal stabilizer / elevator. The Cheetah and Tiger use a larger one than the Traveler. The Traveler also has a fin going down the underside of the tail. It was to help provide yaw stability and was made of wood as a sacrificial structure in case of tail strike... but was removed for the Cheetah/Tiger as it wasn't required. The planes all start with AA-xxxx as it was initially American Aviation that designed/built them. Grumman bought them and did the improvements in 1974 on the AA-5 series. Later Gulfstream bought them and renamed the series AG-5B with a questionable redesign of the air intake. There has been Tiger Aircraft... with currently True Flight of Valdosta GA owning them. They keep talking about making more, but I don't see it happening.

[@coltonnunley4851]

Hey David, awesome video man. Tiger is a great aircraft so thanks for taking the time to upload a video of appreciation about it. Couple of friendly critiques: - 0:43 Tiger was introduced in 1975 by Grumman American, Northrop-Grumman never made them. - 1:12 AA1 Yankee (not trainer) - 1:29 Cheetah and Tiger have the same fuselage (as does the AA5 Traveler). - 3:21 Wings are not a honeycomb structure (fuselage is sandwiched aluminum honeycomb though). The wings are aluminum glued to ribs inside the structure of the wing. - 8:40 Missed a fuel sump under the wing. Four total, two on each side. - 9:15 POH says do not operate the engine with less than 6 quarts. - 9:55 I completely agree with your strategy with the prop and treating it as the most dangerous part of the aircraft. However, its important to note that the p-lead grounds the magneto. The mag itself is engine driven and is the one that generates the spark, not the p-lead. - 11:15 Brake reservoirs are in the master cylinders beneath the pilots side rudder pedals. (You might be thinking of a piper here). - 11:25 No fans, just vents. - 12:42 Not a speed mod. Just there to block the light emitting strobe from the pilot and passengers. - 13:25 Pitot tube measures only airspeed. It does not measure vertical speed or altitude. - 14:50 Missed the static ports. One on each side of the fuselage, located within a foot of the stab. All around video was great dude. That paint looks soooo good on that Tiger! Hope you make more videos about the Tiger, its a wonderful aircraft I love flying our 76' model!

[@davidduvak943]

Thanks for the critique man. Glad you like the video. Honestly, this segment I totally Wang it because, I was intending to fly the camera guy that day and, the winds got really nasty after I had arrived at Old Bridge. Not my normal way of doing something but considering, I did the best I could

[@jamesmorton7881]

AA1 the Yankee, from Jim Bede 1 fame, hi tech in the day, land hot, flaps, not so much, great fun in the LA basin. Great memories, fun and responsive, no spins.

[@chrisyoung7131]

Not bitching Dad bought 1 Brand New from Grumman in Savannah 1979... Before they "Retooled" to make those Effin Sick Business Jets!!!

[@scotabot7826]

Great Airplane! But, what the heck is a "wheel skit"?? After 55 years, that's a new one for me!

[@gerard_iv]

Absolute legend

[@davidduvak943]

Thank you ! Hope you enjoy future videos coming soon

[@reyesben]

How many hours would you recommend someone have before moving to a tiger?

[@davidduvak943]

really no set number of hours. I would just seek good training from someone who knows the airplane very well

[@wntu4]

Yeah that tab is not a speed mod. That's there to keep the light from blinding the pilot at night.

[@ICP_Fish]

Thanks David for the video. I think I'm sold on the tiger. Would love to find someone let me pay to take one up for a test flight. I'm just now getting back in to it after 10 years away. Let me know if you're ever down in Dallas lol.

[@bullykuldo6233]

On your pre flight you forgot something the static vents either side of the fuselage bugs live in those holes and from memory it should have 2 drain points on each wing centre of the tank and sump and when you inspect the wings give them a shake that forces the water down to the sump do the same for the other side and complete your pre flight and do your fuel drain last give time for fuel to settle

[@benwu7]

What’s your typical cruise true airspeed?

[@davidduvak943]

120 knots at 65 percent power . 2400 rpm

[@benwu7]

David Duvak pretty nice. Thank you!

[@tomlovejoy9899]

"Takes the wind like a breeze." Ha!

[@CFITOMAHAWK2]

Geeee.. Former Grumman CFI for yearss...

[@AnthonyDigi1205]

I would love to go up

[@davidduvak943]

Let me know, I’d be happy to take you up anytime

[@reyesben]

Dude I’m so bummed to hear it’s not the best trainer. I’m looking for something for me and my son during his training. How about a Cessna 182? Is it safer for new students learning to land?

[@cannon8369]

I'm actually working on getting my PPL right now and I done almost all my training on a Grumman traveler and now a Tiger. But I would recommend a 172. They are much more common than the grummans and they have different landing characteristics than the grummans so once you get your ppl you wouldn't need to worry about transitioning from the grummans to the cessnas. Also because it took me a while longer than average to be able to solo in the AA-5 because of how careful you need to be with the nose wheel and in flight lessons time is money lol

[@cannon8369]

The 172s are definitely much more forgiving on landings, their nose wheels are much stronger

[@davidduvak943]

once you get the hang of it, it’s a good flying airplane

[@cannon8369]

@@davidduvak943 Absolutely!

[@tamugrad2007]

Don't buy that line. I did almost all my PP training in a Cheetah. It's very easy to fly and very forgiving. Great visibility as well.

[@lamberto6405]

I get an honest 150MPH + on mine - no problem.

[@dojoswitzer]

I can understand performing an abbreviated walk around if you just flew, but when you are creating a video for demonstration, I felt those omissions were just excessively lazy.

[@davidduvak943]

They were not intentional and I just flew the airplane minutes before the video shoot and actually I was not intending to shoot this part of the video but rather than doing something to kill time for the excessive on forecasted wind today of that airport on this particular day. Therefore, I did the best I could’ve winging it. not my preference but, I’m sorry if you don’t like it

[@jonnyhibbert5345]

7000 ums.... DUDE!

[@alcarey9544]

Lots of good info, your presentation skills do need limprovment. The use of "uhm" as a transition or filler between sentences or thoughts is very distracting and takes away from what is otherwise an informative presentation. I mean no harm or disrespect.

[@boeingav8tr525]

dude, you need to do your homework before you do a video. Your history of the company and the plane are totally off. It was American Aviation, then became Grumman American, then Gulfstream American. And no, there are no dimensional differences on a Cheetah vs. tiger. Also the first version of the AA-5 was the Traveler. But I digress, you need to do your research