Tiger Aircraft

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Tiger Aircraft LLC was an aircraft manufacturer based in Martinsburg, West Virginia, USA.

The company was established in 1999 with the aim of returning the AG-5B Tiger to production. Tiger Aircraft followed in the footsteps of Grumman American, Gulfstream American and American General Aviation Corporation in manufacturing the Tiger.

Tiger Aircraft received FAA Part 23 certification for the AG-5B in 2001 and its production certificate in 2002. 51 AG-5B Tigers were produced between 2001 and 2006, with only three being completed in 2006 [1]. The company also held the type certificates for the AA-1, AA-5 and GA-7 series of aircraft.

By the middle of 2006 Tiger Aircraft was experiencing financial problems, production of AG-5Bs had been halted and production workers laid off. [2] By November 2006 the company employed only two workers and owed $115,000 in back taxes to the municipality. [3]. On November 30th, 2006 it was announced that the Tiger Aircraft buildings were for sale [4]. Tiger Aircraft filed for bankruptcy in January 2007.[5]

Tiger Aircraft was headed by President and Chief Operating Officer N. Gene Criss between August 25th, 2003 and early August 2006. Criss was fired by the board for allegedly selling the assets of the company to Network Hosts without authority. The four companies that owned Tiger Aircraft applied to a West Virginia Circuit Court at that time for a restraining order to prevent further sales and also to declare the previous deals invalid[6].

Bob Crowley was the company’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.