American General AG-5B Tiger

The Grumman American AA-5 is a four-seat light aircraft which was based on their AA-1 Yankee Clipper. Unusually for a light aircraft, the AA-5 has a sliding canopy which can be partially opened in flight for ventilation purposes. The AA-5 first flew in 1970 and in 1975 a revised model entered production with aerodynamic improvements including fairings around the fixed undercarriage. The final AA-5 version produced was the AA-5B Tiger until 1979 when Gulfstream, who had acquired Grumman American, ceased all piston-engined aircraft production.

The Tiger re-entered production with a new company called the American General Aviation Corporation who produced a modernised version between 1990 and 1993 as the AG-5B Tiger. The designs were then purchased by Tiger Aircraft who restarted production of the AG-5B in 2001 and continued to produce aircraft until 2006 before entering bankruptcy. In 2007 the AG-5B design was sold to True Holdings LLC who planned to restart production however this has not yet commenced.

The example attending RIAT 2024 in the static display is F-GITZ who also appeared on static at RIAT 2023 and 2022.

Photo Credit: Peter Van Loey