Glasair I
Stoddard-Hamilton / Glasair Aviation · United States · first flew 1979 · light aircraft
The Glasair I is a high-performance composite homebuilt aircraft designed by Tom Hamilton and marketed by Stoddard-Hamilton Aircraft, achieving remarkable speed from its small, clean airframe. It was one of the first composite kit aircraft to reach production and demonstrated what fiberglass construction could do for amateur-built performance.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Very clean glassfibre fuselage with bubble canopy |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Homebuilt composite low-wing two-seater with retractable gear option
- Very clean glassfibre fuselage with bubble canopy
- Side-by-side seating in narrow cockpit
Extremely clean low-wing composite monoplane with a large bubble canopy, side-by-side seating, and a short, well-faired fuselage. The smooth glassfibre surface and tapered wing give it a sleek, almost racing appearance compared to metal kit aircraft.
Specifications
- The Glasair I has a length of 5.94 m (19 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 7.42 m (24 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 418 km/h (260 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Tom Hamilton's prototype Glasair TD taildragger first flew in 1979, and he formed Stoddard-Hamilton Aircraft that year to sell the kit, the first pre-moulded composite aircraft available to builders. It was introduced at the 1980 EAA Convention and won Hamilton the 1985 August Raspet Award; it was developed into the Glasair II.
Variants
The original Glasair TD was a taildragger; the design was developed into the Glasair II and later the Glasair III.
Where you'll see it
Built and flown by private owners through the Experimental/Amateur-Built category; many examples remain active in the homebuilt community.
Related aircraft
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