Grumman American Aa-5a Cheetah

Single Piston

The Grumman American AA-5A Cheetah is a light, all-metal two-seat trainer and personal aircraft that emerged in the mid-1970s as part of Grumman's effort to modernize the original American Aviation AA-5 Traveler design. Built between 1976 and 1979, the Cheetah featured a 150-horsepower Lycoming O-320 engine and became known for its distinctive bonded aluminum honeycomb fuselage construction—a technique borrowed from Grumman's military aircraft heritage that eliminated thousands of rivets and produced an exceptionally smooth, aerodynamic skin. The result was a sleek, efficient cruiser that could sustain 125 knots in level flight while burning just 8 gallons per hour, making it one of the most fuel-efficient fixed-gear singles of its era. Pilots appreciated the Cheetah's responsive handling, excellent visibility through its sliding canopy, and forgiving stall characteristics, though the type's relatively narrow gear track demanded attention during crosswind landings. The AA-5A's castering nosewheel and free-swiveling design also made ground handling distinctive compared to conventional trainers like the Cessna 172. With a useful load around 850 pounds and a range exceeding 500 nautical miles, the Cheetah found a niche as both a primary trainer and a capable cross-country tourer for owner-pilots. Production ended in 1979 when Grumman American was sold, but the type remains popular in the used market for its combination of speed, efficiency, and low maintenance costs. SkyMeter has tracked 9 flights across 4 airframes and 4 operators over routes, with WINDPATH CORPORATION the largest observed operator.