Home Gallery
Approx. 9 of these 2-seat US-built aircraft exist today in SA out of a total of around 13 imported in the 1970s
Jim Bede designed the BD1 in the 1960s as an inexpensive light aircraft with high performance. It did not go into production in it's original form and the production rights were sold to American Aviation of Cleveland, Ohio who modified the design and marketed it as the American Aviation Yankee beginning 1968.
Grumman designer Jim Bede
The late Trevor Trautmann at FASY - Grumman AA1B ZU-BRX with 150hp motor and many other mods
ZU-BRX
L-R - Andre, Trevor Trautmann, Marthinus (Weef) De Beer with their Grumman AA1 aircraft at Baragwanath Airfield (FASY)
Grummans gathering
ZS-IGH
ZU-BRX was registered ZS-IXG before it's complete rebuild and upgrade. This photo was taken at Harrismith during a refuelling stop
Stewart Wood's 150hp Grumman AA1A 1972 model ZS-VYI pictured at FAGC in 1992. This aircraft is still in it's original almost unblemished paint after 20 years.
ZS-WBJ owned and flown by Brian Celliers
Stewart Wood's Grumman AA1A 1972 model modified with Lycoming 0-320 A2B and aux tank in luggage compartment behind seats - approx 6 hrs endurance @ 140 mph cruise
ZS-VYI
1972 Grumman AA1A ZS-VYI (originally ZS-IPF and reregistered 1987 in LS1 Category) was sold in 1993. After winning the State President's Air Race whilst owned and flown by Harry Antel of KZN, the aircraft crashed on take-off in August 2006 and was totally destroyed killing occupants Harry and his cousin Karl Stegen, 21.
Grumman AA1B highly modified with addition of larger tail surfaces, anti-spin strakes and 150 hp motor. This is the only Grumman AA1 in the world authorised by CAA for all aerobatics at up to +9g-6G
Andew Fletcher in his Grumman AA1B ZS=WGI at Baragwanath
ZU-DFB is a standard 108 hp AA1 at one time based at Witbank
Pretty ZS-IXJ in standard Grumman original colour and livery
Brian Celliers' Grumman AA1B with 150 hp motor
Sad end to Grumman AA1B ZS-IXI which crashed on take-off at Harrismith as a result of high density altitude conditions. Pilot Dieter Ebeling and fiancee survived the crash without serious injury thanks to the strength of the cockpit "crash cell" tub of half-inch thick aluminium honeycomb. The aircraft was not equipped with a 150hp engine whilst two other similarly fully-loaded AA1s with 150hp had no problem taking off immediately after IXI.
AA1B ZS-IXI as seen at Lanseria Airport in 1975. The aircraft )Serial Number AA1B- 0149 was registered in August 1973) is in original colour yellow, and trim as shipped to SA. It carries the SA distributor, VIP Aircraft Distributors' logo.
Thanks to Gabriel Le Roux for use of photographs with permission
AA1B ZS-IXE (Serial Number AA1B-0114 first registered in August 1973) also pictured at Lanseria Airport in 1975. This became the damaged airframe which the author Stewart Wood bought in 1993 from M.De Beer of Pretoria, rebuilt with Chevrolet V6 motor and other mods (See Build Log on this website).
Grumman AA1A ZS-VYI flown by new owner Harry Antel of Cato Ridge, KZN
Harry Antel (L) 2nd overall in the with his race-navigator Barry de Groot and the Grumman AA1A ZS-VYI in which they competed. Their average speed over two days over the course and 691 nm of flying, was a fraction under 150mph! Harry bought the aircraft in about 1998 from Rick Verity who bought it from the author Stewart Wood. Sadly Harry and a nephew lost their lives when the aircraft crashed on take-off at his farm-strip in KZN.
