This 1969 Grumman American AA-1 Yankee Clipper Is a High-Potential ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick

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 1969 Grumman American AA-1 Yankee Clipper.

While many of our top picks are turnkey travelers ready for the flight line, today’s selection appeals to the dreamers, mechanics, and hands-on enthusiasts. This 1969 Yankee Clipper represents a vanishingly rare opportunity—the chance to acquire a legendary sport plane airframe for a fraction of the market price.

This aircraft is a true project find. It has been hangar stored and untouched for many years, preserving it from the elements but leaving it in a nonairworthy state that requires a dedicated restoration. While the logbooks have been lost—a common hurdle in barn-find-style recoveries—the aircraft comes with its original airworthiness certificate and a collection of maintenance invoices and manuals to help piece together its story.

The airframe is equipped with a Lycoming O-235-C2C engine, the 108 hp powerplant responsible for the Yankee’s reputation as a 130 mph “hot rod” at 6 gph. The panel is partially equipped with a King KA134 audio panel and AT50A transponder, but it lacks nav/com radios, offering the new owner a blank canvas to install a modern, lightweight VFR avionics suite. This is an “as-is, where-is” sale, perfect for a buyer looking to invest sweat equity into a machine that is renowned for its fun factor.

Upon its release in the late 1960s, the AA-1 quickly earned a reputation as a pilot’s airplane. It featured a sliding canopy that could be opened in flight, giving it a fighter-like feel that was unmatched by other trainers.

The 1969 model features the original “hot wing,” a laminar flow airfoil that provided snappy roll rates and higher cruise speeds but was known for sharper stall characteristics than the docile Cessna 150. While later B and C models modified the leading edge to tame the stall, purists often seek out these early A models for their superior speed and spirited handling, often referring to them affectionately as “Yankees.”

Listed at $11,900, this 1969 Grumman American AA-1 Yankee Clipper is a restoration candidate that promises a high reward for the right owner. It is located in Arlington, Washington, and is ready to be transported to its new home for a second lease on life.

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.

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