Glasair I
Stoddard-Hamilton / Glasair Aviation · United States · first flew 1980 · 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
Designed in the late 1970s and first flown around 1980, the Glasair I set new benchmarks for kit-built aircraft performance. Its fiberglass construction allowed a very smooth surface finish contributing to low drag, and it won multiple EAA awards. The design evolved into the Glasair II and eventually the Glasair III with retractable gear.
Variants
The Glasair I was available in tricycle-gear (TD) and taildragger (FT) and retractable-gear (RG) configurations. The Glasair II and III are stretched, refined successors.
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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