Grumman American GA-7 Cougar financing, specs & price
Light twin, bonded, underpowered perception. Built 1978-1979; Lycoming O-320 (160 hp ea); 4 seats; 160-knot cruise.
What a GA-7 Cougar costs to finance
Payment examples at three price points, using typical lender guidelines for twin-engine aircraft and a 7.75% illustrative APR. Your rate depends on credit, loan size, term and the specific airplane.
| Example | Price | Down | Loan | Term | Payment @ 7.75% | Range @ 6.99–9.99% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Older / higher-time | $55,000 | 20% ($11,000) | $44,000 | 15 yrs | $414/mo | $395–$473 |
| Mid-market (most common) | $80,000 | 20% ($16,000) | $64,000 | 15 yrs | $602/mo | $575–$687 |
| Late / low-time | $115,000 | 20% ($23,000) | $92,000 | 15 yrs | $866/mo | $826–$988 |
Principal and interest only; excludes insurance, taxes and fees. Prices are typical asking ranges from our aircraft database — verify any specific airplane with Vref or Aircraft Bluebook and a pre-buy inspection. Not a quote or commitment to lend.
Get real numbers for your GA-7 Cougar
Share the tail number or listing and your timeline — a specialist will price it across multiple lenders.
GA-7 Cougar specifications & operating economics
Performance & capacity
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320 (160 hp ea)
- Production
- 1978-1979
- Seats
- 4
- Cruise
- 160 kts
- Range
- 1050 NM
- Fuel capacity
- 118 gal
Fuel economics (September 2026)
- Fuel burn
- 18 gph
- Fuel cost per hour
- $130
- Fuel cost per nautical mile
- $0.81
- Endurance (no reserve)
- 6.6 hrs
- Fuel for 100 hrs/yr
- $13,032
100LL at $7.24/gal (AirNav national average, September 2026).
What lenders and underwriters look at on a GA-7 Cougar
- Multi-engine rating required
- O-320 engines underpowered for some—careful weight mgmt
- Bonded construction inspection same
- Insurance moderate for twin
Pre-buy inspection focus areas
- Bonded skin delamination
- Both engine compressions and times
- Gear actuators
- Fuel bladder condition
- Both prop conditions
Pre-buy inspections are typically paid out of pocket, not financed. See the pre-buy checklist.
Buying and owning a GA-7 Cougar
- Buyer & Upgrade GuidesGrumman AA-5 Traveler and AA-5A Cheetah Buyer's Guide: The 150-hp Grummans
- Buyer & Upgrade GuidesGrumman Tiger Buyer's Guide: AA-5B vs AG-5B, Inspection Points and Loan Math
- Cost of OwnershipGrumman AA-5A Cheetah Cost of Ownership: A Budget Four-Seater by the Numbers
- Cost of OwnershipGrumman AA-5 Series Cost of Ownership: Traveler vs Cheetah vs Tiger Compared
- Cost of OwnershipGrumman AA-5B Tiger Cost of Ownership: Annual Budget and Performance per Dollar
Grumman American GA-7 Cougar financing FAQs
How much does a Grumman American GA-7 Cougar cost?
Typical asking prices for a Grumman American GA-7 Cougar run from about $55,000 for older or higher-time examples to $115,000 for late, low-time ones, with most trading near $80,000. Engine time, avionics, damage history and paint/interior drive the spread — confirm with a Vref or Aircraft Bluebook valuation and a pre-buy inspection.
What is the monthly payment on a Grumman American GA-7 Cougar?
At a $80,000 purchase price with 20% down ($16,000), a $64,000 loan over 15 years is about $602 per month at 7.75% APR, or roughly $575–$687 across the 6.99%–9.99% range lenders published as of September 2026. Principal and interest only.
How much down payment do I need for a Grumman American GA-7 Cougar?
Twin-engine aircraft typically need 15–30% down, with maximum terms of about 10–15 years, and many lenders prefer twins built in 1970 or later. Examples here use 20% down.
What does a Grumman American GA-7 Cougar cost to fly per hour in fuel?
At about 18 gallons per hour and the September 2026 national average of $7.24 per gallon for 100LL, fuel alone is roughly $130 per hour, or about $0.81 per nautical mile at a 160-knot cruise. Add reserves, insurance, storage and the annual for the full picture.
Can I finance an older Grumman American GA-7 Cougar?
Usually, yes. Lenders finance piston singles without a fixed age limit, though pre-1960 aircraft may need a larger down payment and shorter term, and airframes over 10,000 hours are often excluded. Complete logbooks, AD compliance and a clean pre-buy matter more than the year on an older GA-7 Cougar.
More Grumman American aircraft
- Grumman American AA-5 Traveler · ~$42,000
- Grumman American AA-5A Cheetah · ~$48,000
- Grumman American AA-5B Tiger · ~$70,000
- Grumman American AA-1 Yankee · ~$26,000
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