CapeCodJay said:
I am looking to buy my first plane and I am in love with the little Grumman Yankees.
Anyone have any opinions or thoughts etc that they would share.
Any info is appreciated.
There are four models of Grumman 2 seaters (AA1, AA1-A, AA1-B and AA1-C)...lots of folks call them all Yankees but there are some interesting differences between the original AA1 and the 3 successive models.
I saw mentioned here the ability to insert an O-320 engine for the stock O-235 that these planes sported when they left the factory. This engine change imparts a significant HP boost with attendant increase in speed and climb capability but, using the "no free lunch" rule of engineering there are some trade offs in the areas of useful load and reduced flight duration. This is also a significant modification from a cost perspective.
Another way to boost in performance from the original 108HP or 115HP can be had by swaping the cylinder heads where the O-235 engine then creates 125HP. Not as signficant from a cost perspective.
As with any two seater check useful load against your occupancy load.
The original AA1 has the laminer flow wing.
By the time the -B model rolled out the nose gear was modified to make it a tad harder to ding the prop if you happen to touch the nose gear first during landing (though not a habit you want to get into with any aircraft let along a Grumman), gross weight was increased a bit and the original Yankee wing was changed. Also, the B is the last model with the rounded nose air inlets and smaller original tail
The C model has the highest max gross weight. The C model has the squared nose of the Tiger and the Cheetha and a larger tail (which eats into cruise speed and adds weight).
My favorite two seat Grumman was an AA1-B with the 125HP STC. It was a nice trade off between speed and useful load though I've never flown an original "thin wing" Yankee. I always thought that an original Yankee with the 125HP mod would be nice but I'd have to look at the useful load numbers.
Len