On a warm day, a Grumman Cheetah taxis out with its canopy slid back and the breeze coming through the cockpit, one of the small pleasures of the type. Steering works through differential braking on a castering nosewheel, so the first few taxis in a Cheetah feel different from a Cessna or a Piper.
Quirks like these are why a model-specific checklist helps. Before takeoff, the canopy needs to be set the way the POH calls for, and that’s the kind of item a checklist exists to catch when the taxi has been pleasant and your mind is already on the flight. Use the AA-5A checklist as a supplement to the airplane’s POH, and confirm it matches your Cheetah’s year and engine.
Quick answer: The CheckMate Grumman American Cheetah AA-5A Checklist is a cockpit checklist for pilots who fly the Grumman American Cheetah AA-5A, the low-wing four-seater with a sliding canopy. It comes as CheckMate, CheckMate+ or CheckMate Pro in Standard (6.5″ x 9″) or Compact (5″ x 7″) sizes, plus a QuickMate card. It’s meant to supplement the airplane’s POH/AFM, not replace it, so confirm it matches your exact model, year, engine and handbook before relying on it. It’s available on Skyfarer and at Skyfarer Shop.
CheckMate formats for the Cheetah AA-5A
- CheckMate. The design that started it all, with the familiar legacy look, in Standard (6.5″ x 9″) or Compact (5″ x 7″).
- CheckMate+. An updated design aimed at better readability and safety, with passenger and crew briefing prompts, abort plan prompts and ATC communications prompts. It includes an instant low-resolution, black-and-white temporary digital download, so you have a copy to use right away. Standard (6.5″ x 9″) or Compact (5″ x 7″).
- CheckMate Pro. A personalized CheckMate+: add your tail number, name or phone number, your empty weight and useful load, and details for up to five airports you visit often. Typical production time is within 48 hours. Standard (6.5″ x 9″) or Compact (5″ x 7″).
- QuickMate. A 5″ x 7″ plastic card with an abbreviated checklist for pilots who prefer minimalism. It highlights only the most critical information while keeping all the V-speeds and emergency procedures from CheckMate.
How to put it to work
- Confirm the match first. Compare the model, year and engine on the listing with your airplane’s POH/AFM, data plate and records before you fly with it.
- Read it against the handbook once. Go through it page by page with the POH/AFM and any supplements open beside it. Where they differ, the POH/AFM and supplements govern.
- Don’t let a pleasant taxi skip the checks. With the canopy open and an easy taxi, it’s tempting to rush the before-takeoff check. Run every item, including the canopy, exactly as the checklist and POH call for.
- Pick the size for your cockpit. Standard (6.5″ x 9″) gives more room on the page; Compact (5″ x 7″) is the smaller option when space on a kneeboard or in a side pocket is tight.
Good to know
A CheckMate Cheetah AA-5A checklist supplements the aircraft’s POH/AFM; it doesn’t replace it. The handbook, its supplements and the placards in your airplane are the authority on every procedure, speed and limitation, and the checklist is the working copy you fly with.
Airplanes with the same name can differ by model year, engine and installed equipment, so confirm the checklist matches your airplane’s exact model, year, engine and handbook before you rely on it.
Pilot tip: With a castering nosewheel, plan your taxi turns early and use brakes smoothly. Practice in an open area of the ramp before tight maneuvering near other airplanes.
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Where to buy
CheckMate Grumman American Cheetah AA-5A Checklist is sold by Skyfarer Shop. Find it on the Skyfarer marketplace or order directly from Skyfarer Shop. Either link shows the current price, shipping options and return terms.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a QuickMate card for the Cheetah?
Yes. QuickMate, a 5″ x 7″ plastic card with an abbreviated checklist that keeps the V-speeds and emergency procedures from CheckMate, is listed for the AA-5A.
Does this checklist replace the POH/AFM?
No. It supplements the airplane’s POH/AFM. The handbook and its supplements govern every procedure, speed and limitation, so confirm the checklist against them before you rely on it.
What’s the difference between Standard and Compact?
Standard is 6.5″ x 9″ and Compact is 5″ x 7″. CheckMate, CheckMate+ and CheckMate Pro all come in both sizes.
What does CheckMate Pro add?
CheckMate Pro is a personalized CheckMate+. You can add your tail number, name or phone number, your empty weight and useful load, and details for up to five airports you visit often. Typical production time is within 48 hours.
