Glasair GlaStar
The GlaStar is a two-seat kit aircraft designed by Tom Hamilton, distinct from the speed-focused Glasair line he created earlier, and aimed instead at rugged, go-anywhere utility flying. First flown in November 1994, it combines a riveted aluminum fuselage with composite and fabric-covered wings, and builders can configure it with either tricycle or tailwheel landing gear depending on whether they want easier pavement handling or better rough-strip performance. Folding wings simplify trailering and storage. It proved popular enough that Stoddard-Hamilton had orders for 250 kits within a year of its debut, and the design was later developed further into the Glasair Sportsman.
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Did you know?
A rugged utility kit: riveted-aluminum fuselage, fabric-covered wings, and a builder's choice of tricycle or tailwheel gear.
Specifications
| Length | 6.8 m (22 ft) |
|---|---|
| Wingspan | 10.6 m (35 ft) |
| Height | 2.7 m (9 ft) |
| Persons on board | 2 |
| Maximum take-off weight | 1 t |
| Range | 550 NM (1,019 km) |
| Service ceiling | 24,000 ft (7,315 m) |
| Optimum ceiling | 16,000 ft (4,877 m) |
| Rate of climb | 2,000 ft/min (10.2 m/s) |
| Landing distance | 91 m (299 ft) |
| Fuel capacity | 110 l |
Curated by CatchFlights from manufacturer documents, ICAO Doc 8643 and reference works; values are left out where no source could confirm them. Sources are listed on our credits page.
In CatchFlights
In CatchFlights the Glasair GlaStar starts as a Uncommon catch. The tier is an editorial judgement of how special a sighting of this type is. The more often you catch it, the closer it moves to Common for you.
A catch counts for the manufacturer Glasair, the GlaStar family and the model in your collection, and the daily Type Rating quiz asks about the types of each family.
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