LoPresti's role in the Tiger transformation is well known among AA-5 boosters. The Tiger traces its roots back to the AA-1 Yankee, made by American Aviation in 1964. This two-place trainer-to-be boasted some innovative construction mcthods, such as glued metal skins and a tubular main wing spar that doubled as a fuel tank. With a small, clean wing, the AA-1 was stunningly fast for the power-108 hp at first from a Lycoming 0-235-putting in some 117 kt true at optimum altitude. That early iteration made was a poor trainer thanks to its mediocre climb performance and the requirement for strict airspeed control.

In the early 1970s. American Aviation started work on a much bigger, more complicated four-seat follow-on model, but ended up with what appears to be a scaled-up AA-1.

Thus was born thc AA-5 Traveler, with 150 hp on board. Although it seemed a close derivative of the AA-1, the Traveler had several system and aerodynamic improvements. LoPresti came into the picture when Grumman bought the line in the early 1970s.

Out of his efforts to improve the AA-5's performance grew a pair of significantly speedier siblings, the 150-hp AA-5A Cheetah and the AA-5B Tiger. (In fact, the Tiger debuted in 1975, a year earlier than the Cheetah.) Although they shared the wing, fuselage, and basic construction with the Traveler, the Grumman-made airplanes employed extensive aerodynamic improvements. Fairings sprouted everywhere on the airframe, particularly noticeable around the wing root and at the junction of the belly and main landing gear legs. A revised cowling with significantly smaller cooling-air openings completed the picture.