Glasair III
Glasair Aviation · USA · first flew 1984 · light aircraft
The Glasair III is a high-performance composite homebuilt capable of exceeding 400 km/h, making it one of the fastest piston kit aircraft ever produced. Its retractable undercarriage and refined aerodynamics place it firmly in the racer-tourer category.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | smooth glassfibre fuselage with a large one-piece canopy |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- composite low-wing with retractable tricycle gear and very clean lines
- tapered wing with winglets on later examples
- smooth glassfibre fuselage with a large one-piece canopy
The extremely short tapered wing, retractable gear, and exceptional speed differentiate the Glasair III from other composite kit aircraft.
Specifications
- The Glasair III has a length of 5.87 m (19 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 6.53 m (21 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 426 km/h (265 mph).
- Typical crew: 1-2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Stoddard-Hamilton Aircraft (later Glasair Aviation) developed the Glasair series from the late 1970s, with the Glasair III emerging in the mid-1980s as the pinnacle of the range. Using a Lycoming IO-360 or similar engine, it achieves performance that embarrasses many factory aircraft. The company is based in Arlington, Washington.
Variants
Earlier variants include the Glasair I and II with fixed gear; the Glasair III introduced retractable gear and higher power; the Super II-S RG is a related variant.
Where you'll see it
A small number of Glasair IIIs hold UK LAA permits; their high build complexity and demanding handling demand experienced pilots.
Related aircraft
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