Development
Following Gulfstream Aerospace’s purchase of Grumman’s American light aircraft division in 1977, the company embarked on a policy of aircraft model development. During this time the other aircraft in the line, including the AA-1B Trainer and the AA-5B Tiger underwent extensive redesign.
The aircraft line Gulfstream then fielded included the redesigned AA-1C Lynx two seater, the Gulfstream American AA-5A Cheetah and the Gulfstream American AA-5B Tiger single engine aircraft. The next obvious step was to develop the existing twin-engined version of the AA-5, which Grumman American had first flown as a prototype on 20 December 1974. Gulfstream did extensive redesign work on the former Grumman project and the Gulfstream production prototype did not fly until 14 January 1977.
The Cougar uses the same honeycomb and bonded metal construction that is the hallmark of the line since the BD-1. The prototype's single spar wing was upgraded to a double-spar configuration and this allowed a wet wing. The resulting aircraft was designated the GA-7 (for Gulfstream American) and was given the name Cougar in keeping with the existing Lynx, Cheetah and Tiger names for aircraft in the company's line.
The Cougar was intended for the flying school twin-engined trainer market and also as a personal use aircraft. The Cougar is powered by a pair of wing-mounted Lycoming O-320-D1D engines of 160 hp (119 kW). It carries four people at maximum cruise speed of 160 kn (296 km/h) and a typical cruise speed of 140 kn (259 km/h). It was certified under US FAR Part 23 on 22 September 1977.
Production of the Cougar ran for only two model years, 1978 and 1979 before production was halted. Just 115 Cougars were delivered.
In 1995 the type certificate for the GA-7 was sold to SOCATA of France who intended to develop the aircraft and produce it as the TB 320 Tangara. The Tangara was to be powered by two Lycoming O-360-A1G6 engines of 180 hp (134 kW) each. The first Tangara was a modified Cougar, had 160 hp (119 kW) engines and first flew in mid-1996. The complete Tangara prototype was also a converted Cougar and had the 180 hp (134 kW) engines. It first flew in February 1997. Despite SOCATA's plans to put the Tangara into production this never occurred.
Read more about this topic: Gulfstream American GA-7 Cougar
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