This 1973 Grumman American AA-5 Traveler Is an Efficient ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick

Engine upgrade, IFR Garmin GPS, and low SMOH engine hours make the single-engine platform a smart commuter.

FLYING Staff

Monday, September 28, 2026 at 09:00 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

1973 Grumman American AA-5 Traveler [Credit: AircraftMerchants]

Key Takeaways:

The featured aircraft is a 1973 Grumman American AA-5 Traveler, chosen for its unique blend of efficiency, sportiness, and extensive modifications for enhanced performance.
Key upgrades include a 160 hp STC engine with low hours since overhaul, modern Garmin GNC-355 IFR GPS/comm avionics, ADS-B Out compliance, and an unleaded autogas STC.
Priced at $89,500, this well-maintained aircraft with a classic exterior and retro interior is presented as an excellent opportunity for a fun, practical, and efficient personal airplane.

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Every day, the team at Aircraft For Sale chooses an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, a good deal, or has other qualities we find interesting. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily.

Today’s Top Pick is a 1973 Grumman American AA-5 Traveler.

Long appreciated for its fighter-like canopy and agile handling, the Grumman American AA-5 offers a unique blend of efficiency and sportiness. This particular model has been elevated into a highly capable cross-country machine thanks to a host of modifications that improve climb, cruise speed, and takeoff performance, making it a fun and practical choice for a commuter or trainer.

Logging 4,195 total hours on the airframe to date, this 1973 model retains an impressive 906-pound useful load and a 37-gallon fuel capacity, augmented by a cost-saving unleaded autogas STC. The exterior is finished in overall striking white with gray lower section and black accent stripes, giving it a classic and clean ramp presence that is further enhanced by Pulselite strobes.

Peeking inside reveals a well-maintained cabin designed with a retro aesthetic. The interior remains in good condition, featuring distinctive red seating and side panels, red carpets, and burled walnut paneling that adds a touch of classic warmth.

Driving this Traveler forward is a Lycoming O-320-E2G engine that boasts a 160 hp STC modification. With just 234 hours since major overhaul, the upgraded powerplant turns a Sensenich propeller, which carries an STC that eliminates a McCauley airworthiness directive (AD), showing approximately 773 hours since new.

Modernizing the cockpit is a highly capable avionics package anchored by a Garmin GNC-355 IFR GPS/comm and Garmin GI-106A indicator. Pilots will appreciate the addition of a uAvionix tailBeacon for ADS-B Out compliance, Insight GEM-602 graphic engine monitor, JPI Fuel Scan 450 fuel flow computer, and PS Engineering PMA-600M audio panel equipped with marker beacons and four-place intercom.

Listed at $89,500, this Grumman Traveler has been carefully hangared. With all logs and records intact, it is an excellent opportunity for anyone seeking a fun and efficient personal airplane.

If you’re exploring ownership options, FLYING Finance can help get you airborne. Use our airplane loan calculator to estimate your monthly payments, or connect with an aviation finance expert at flyingfinance.com.