This is one plane you probably didn’t expect to see here, but it is a great family plane—so long as the kids are still little, that is. It’s easy to fly, has fantastic visibility, has room for bags (so long as the packing planners are prudent), and is both fast enough, around 135 knots, in my experience, and comfortable enough to make a good cross-country platform. This type was, in fact, the first family plane I ever flew, and I flew it a lot. For our typical missions, which were to take two grownups up front and two little kids in back, on trips of 500 to 750 nm for vacation or a quick trip to see relatives, the Tiger was ideal. The visibility is to die for, the fuel economy with a Lycoming O-360 is just fine, and the interior is plenty roomy. Plus, the Tiger is a relatively affordable buy in today’s high-priced used plane marketplace. Alternatives: Cessna 172RG; Diamond DA40.
Grumman Tiger
Key Takeaways:
- The Tiger is presented as an ideal family plane, particularly for two adults and two small children, suitable for cross-country trips of 500-750 nm.
- It is easy to fly, offers fantastic visibility, good fuel economy, a roomy interior, and comfortable cruising speeds around 135 knots.
- A significant benefit of the Tiger is its relative affordability in the current used aircraft market.
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