N72RC

N72RC is a Gulfstream American AA-1 / AA-1A / AA-1B / AA-1C, a single-engine piston aircraft operated by SCHMID MARK D. SkyMeter has tracked 12 flights totalling 4 hours of airtime via ADS-B. The most frequent segment is DE19 to K17N. Service window in our records spans 335 days. The Gulfstream American AA-1 / AA-1A / AA-1B / AA-1C has a maximum takeoff weight of 1,600 lb, light wake category.

About the Gulfstream American AA-1 / AA-1A / AA-1B / AA-1C

The Gulfstream American AA-1 series represents one of general aviation's most distinctive attempts to bring sports-car handling to the sky. Originally designed by Jim Bede as the BD-1 kit plane in the 1960s, the design was acquired by American Aviation and refined into a production two-seater optimized for flight training and personal sport flying. The aircraft's most notable feature is its bonded aluminum honeycomb construction, a technique borrowed from aerospace manufacturing that eliminated thousands of rivets and created an exceptionally smooth, lightweight airframe.

With a low wing, sliding canopy, and castering nosewheel, the AA-1 series earned a reputation for crisp, responsive handling that rewarded skilled pilots but demanded respect from students. The type evolved through several variants: the original AA-1 Yankee, the improved AA-1A Trainer, the AA-1B with better useful load, and finally the AA-1C Lynx with a more powerful 115-hp Lycoming O-235. Production continued under Gulfstream American after corporate acquisitions in the late 1970s, with approximately 1,800 examples built before the line ended in 1978.

The AA-1's tight cockpit, limited baggage capacity, and relatively high landing speeds made it less forgiving than competitors like the Cessna 152, but its efficient cruise performance and nimble aerobatic-style handling cultivated a devoted following among sport pilots. SkyMeter has tracked flights across airframes and operators, with the most frequently observed operator.