Sometimes, a simple panel upgrade can take on a life of its own. Eric Tierno has “a small stake” in a New Hampshire family-owned Grumman Tiger that needed upgraded avionics, but the project … well, expanded. “It started as some simple IFR upgrades,” he said. “Then the AOPA [2022 sweepstakes giveaway] Tiger provided some inspiration, along with some object lessons.”
The Tiger serves as transportation and a training platform for a prolific aviation family, including Delta Air Lines captain Kevin Purcell and his son Charles Purcell, a 2023 Kent State University graduate and certified flight instructor. Also involved are Kevin’s brothers Gerry (retired American Airlines Boeing 767 captain) and Tim (U.S. Air Force – retired, and now a civilian USAF instructor), as well as John Seeler, president of the local EAA chapter, machine shop owner and leaseholder on the hangar that houses the Tiger, among other aircraft.
With a background in military avionics, Tierno serves on the Airport Authority board at Laconia (New Hampshire) Municipal Airport, where the Tiger is undergoing its transformation at the hands of the Purcell family. But before attacking the panel, he said, they disassembled it down to the core and “uncovered years of maintenance shortcuts,” including non-spec hardware, among other discrepancies. “About a year and four months later,” he said, “we’re now starting to put it back together.”
Part of phase one of the project, the panel upgrade will include adding a large-screen Garmin G3X suite and Garmin GNS 500 digital autopilot. Also on tap is a new three-blade MT Propeller electric constant-speed prop. Though cruise speed is expected to increase by just a few knots, the three-blade prop should provide a significant increase in runway performance and climb capability, Tierno said.
This particular Tiger project is typical of what could be a trend. No one expects the investment in time, money and new equipment to yield a break-even increase in monetary value for the airplane. But as Tierno points out, “The cost point makes sense.” Meaning that the value will come in the practical use and enjoyment the owner and his family and partners will realize in safely flying the aircraft, not just for themselves, but through more than one generation of pilots.
Great story. As a Grumman owner as well, I’m in eternal debt to FletchAir and Roscoe and MT and all the other suppliers who keep my flying possible.
AOPA 2022 Sweepstakes Winner.
“uncovered years of maintenance shortcuts,” including non-spec hardware, among other discrepancies.
Disappointing, I would have expected AOPA to have throughly inspected their Sweepstakes airplane.
Read more carefully – this is not about the AOPA sweepstakes Tiger.
I’m pretty sure this is NOT the AOPA Sweepstakes plane. That aircraft is mentioned in passing as an inspiration to update the Tiger in question. A more careful reading would have made that pretty clear.
The Tiger is a great airplane that is fun to fly and easy to maintain. Its instrument panel has enough real estate to accommodate some pretty nice avionics upgrades. One thing I have always felt the manufacturer missed the proverbial boat on is not offering a model with a constant speed prop, and perhaps the fuel injected IO360 instead of the carbureted version. That upgrade would have made the Tiger a serious cross-country machine.
@john Mc….agreed…and that’s why to me the Sling answers that call!👊❤️✈️