Glasair GlaStar explained

The Glasair GlaStar (sometimes Glastar) is an American amateur-built aircraft that was designed by Tom Hamilton and produced by Stoddard-Hamilton Aircraft and later Glasair Aviation. It was first flown in 1994 and was superseded in production by the Glasair Sportsman 2+2 c. 2005. When it was available the aircraft was supplied as a kit for amateur construction.[1] [2] [3]

Design and development

The GlaStar features a strut-braced high-wing, a two-seats-in-side-by-side configuration enclosed cockpit accessed via doors, fixed tricycle landing gear or conventional landing gear and a single engine in tractor configuration.

The aircraft is made with a welded steel fuselage, with a fiberglass covering and aluminum wings. Its 351NaN1 span wing employs a NASA GA(W)-2 airfoil at the wing root, with a NASA GA(W)-2 mod at the wing tip. The wings have an area of 128square feet, mount flaps and can be folded for ground transportation or storage. The acceptable power range is 100to and early engines used included the 1000NaN0 Rotax 912ULS. The aircraft proved underpowered with the Rotax, and later the 150to Lycoming O-320 and the 1800NaN0 Lycoming O-360 four-stroke powerplants were used. The landing gear can be rapidly converted between tricycle and taildragger configurations. The cockpit is 44inches wide and includes a large baggage area that will accommodate 200lb of cargo.[4]

Initial factory estimated construction time was 1200 hours.

Accidents and Incidents

In 1996, a service recall was issued for the control yoke assembly of select GlaStar kits.[5] In 1999, one of the GlaStar kits not included in the recall crashed, killing its two occupants.[6]

Variants

Symphony SA-160
  • Type certified version, produced by Ostmecklenburgische Flugzeugbau (OMF) and later Symphony Aircraft.
    Glasair Sportsman 2+2
  • Four seat development with a gross weight of 23500NaN0 that replaced the original GlaStar in production.[7]
    Plane Driven PD-1
  • Roadable version produced by Plane Driven.[8]

    Notes and References

    1. Bertrand, Noel; Rene Coulon; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2003-04, page 183. Pagefast Ltd, Lancaster UK, 2003. ISSN 1368-485X
    2. Downey, Julia: 1999 Kit Aircraft Directory, Kitplanes, Volume 15, Number 12, December 1998, page 68. Primedia Publications. ISSN 0891-1851
    3. Purdy, Don: AeroCrafter - Homebuilt Aircraft Sourcebook, page 262. BAI Communications.
    4. Web site: The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage. 3 January 2012. Lednicer. David. 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100420012244/http://www.ae.illinois.edu/m-selig/ads/aircraft.html. 20 April 2010. dead.
    5. News: Glasair . Glasair Aviation.
    6. Web site: Glastar crash. William Jerry (Champ) Champion.
    7. Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12, page 103. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X
    8. Web site: Plane Driven's "Roadable" Glasair . Avweb.com . 2010-07-23 . 2012-10-02.

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