Glasair Aviation Glasair

Single Piston

The Glasair is a family of high-performance composite kitplanes developed by Glasair Aviation (originally Stoddard-Hamilton) beginning in the early 1980s, representing one of the pioneering success stories in amateur-built aircraft. Designed for builders seeking near-certified performance from a homebuilt, the Glasair series progressed from the original tandem-seat Glasair I through the side-by-side Glasair II to the larger, more powerful Glasair III, with the latter capable of cruise speeds exceeding 250 knots when equipped with a 300-horsepower Lycoming engine. The design's composite construction (fiberglass and carbon fiber) delivered exceptional strength-to-weight ratios and smooth aerodynamic surfaces that translated directly into speed, making Glasairs perennial favorites at air races and cross-country rallies throughout the 1990s and 2000s. The type's appeal lies in its blend of fighter-like handling, retractable gear, and genuine 200+ knot cruise capability in a two-seat package, all achievable by amateur builders willing to invest 1,500 to 2,000 hours of construction time. While the Glasair III remains the most capable variant with a never-exceed speed of 220 knots and a maximum structural cruising speed of 200 knots, earlier models like the Glasair I and II offer similar handling characteristics at slightly lower performance envelopes. The company changed hands several times and eventually merged into what became the GlaStar and Sportsman product lines, but hundreds of original Glasairs remain active in private hands. SkyMeter has tracked 195 flights across 89 airframes and 84 operators, with STARR BRENT R the largest observed operator.