Gulfstream American Aa-5b Tiger

Single Piston

The Gulfstream American AA-5B Tiger is a four-seat, single-engine light aircraft that became one of general aviation's most beloved sport tourers when production began in 1975. Distinguished by its bonded aluminum honeycomb fuselage construction and sliding canopy that provides exceptional visibility, the Tiger offered private pilots a rare combination of honest 139-knot cruise speed, responsive handling, and relatively economical operation. The design traces its lineage to Jim Bede's original BD-1, which Grumman refined into the AA-5 Cheetah before stretching performance with the Tiger's 180-horsepower Lycoming O-360 engine. What set the Tiger apart from contemporaries like the Cessna 172 and Piper Cherokee was its sleek, low-drag airframe and castering nosewheel that rewarded skilled pilots with nimble ground handling and spirited cross-country performance. The type earned a devoted following among flying clubs and private owners who appreciated its 700-nautical-mile range and relatively benign stall characteristics, though the bonded construction made major repairs more complex than conventional riveted designs. Production continued through various ownership changes until 2006, when the design was acquired by True Flight Holdings, and later American Champion, which briefly resumed manufacturing. Today the Tiger remains a fixture at grass-roots fly-ins and a popular choice for pilots seeking an affordable step up from basic trainers without the operating costs of retractable-gear aircraft. SkyMeter has tracked 11 flights across 3 airframes and 3 operators, with JOSEPH PHILIP J the largest observed operator.