Major components are still supported by the engine,
instruments and avionics manufactures. Airframe parts
should be available for some time, either new or used.
Issues on future airframe problems, such as de-bonding or
corrosion should be investigated with a very complete
pre-purchase inspection.




"Grumman-581" wrote
in message ...
| Dice wrote:
| Since I started working on my ticket, and now my
instrument, I have been in
| love with the new Tigers from day one of my training.
|
| The AA5x-series aircraft are fun to fly... I wouldn't buy
one of the new
| ones since I can't see paying that much money for an
aircraft that does
| not have air-conditioning... Hey, I live in the Houston
area,
| air-conditioning would be a nice thing to have...
|
| Is it prudent to buy an orphaned aircraft brand?
|
| I bought my 1978 AA5A for probably around $35K with a
mid-time engine
| somewhere around 12 years ago... I've since that time gone
over TBO on
| that engine and probably spent around $15K for an engine
overhaul... As
| such, I insure it for a hull value of $50K... Maybe it
doesn't have as
| nice of an interior as the new Tigers, but if that was a
big concern for
| me, I could probably spend a grand or two and have a nice
leather
| interior put in it... Parts are still available for it via
FletchAir and
| some other companies... Yeah, maybe it's not manufacturer
supported
| anymore, but it hasn't been a problem for me during the
last 12 years...
| The Tiger has 20 more HP than my Cheetah since I have the
160 hp O-320
| STC... Handling is the same since they are basically the
same
| airframe... Go to http://www.grumman.net for more
information... There
| is a Grumman mailing list, but it is one of those censored
type of lists
| that if you post something which the owner of the list
considers not
| strictly Grumman related, he will kick you off the list...
There is also
| a Yahoo Grumman group that is not censored that you might
prefer...
|
| Do these planes have design or performance issues?
|
| They are a rather nimble aircraft with great visibility...
If you find
| yourself having trouble seeing over the panel on a 172
unless you crank
| the seat up or add a booster cushion, you will especially
like the
| AA5x-series...
|
| I know I'll lose a bunch of market value --depreciation
bucks because
| they're orphaned
|
| You'll lose depreciation on a new aircraft... If you are
buying one that
| is a few years old, you come out OK though... Or if you
just keep the
| aircraft long enough that inflation causes the value of
your aircraft to
| go up...
|
|
| For me its a toss-up between a Diamond and the New
Tiger, and frankly
| I prefer a yoke.
|
| I have flown the Diamond Katana (DA-20)... A factory
salesman had
| contacted me and wanted me to give it a try for a possible
purchase for
| a leaseback for a flight school... It was a nice looking
plane, but the
| roll rate was noticeably slower than my AA5A... The glass
aircraft sure
| do produce a nice finish on them though... I would say
that the Katana
| probably had a roll rate perhaps a bit better than a
172... I hated the
| roll rate on the 172... It felt like I was trying to fly a
large
| truck... The AA5x-series has a considerably better roll
rate... Very
| nimble flier...