Glasair Aviation

Glasair Aviation makes kit airplanes for home builders. It is based in Arlington, Washington. The site says the first Glasair, introduced in 1980, was the first pre-molded composite kitplane. More than 2,500 kits have been built, and more than 1,200 are flying in many countries.

Between 1980 and 1995 the company updated the Glasair series I, II and III. In 1997 it unveiled the GlaStar, a high-wing design with many uses. Work to seat four people led to the Sportsman. The site says the Sportsman offers speed and range for cross country trips, plus rugged build for off-airport flying.

In 2006 the company launched the Two Weeks to Taxi program. A builder works with the company's staff at its Customer Assembly Center and finishes an airworthy Sportsman in two weeks. The site says this gives the builder a close knowledge of the new aircraft.

The Glasair series I, II and III were sold to Advanced Aero Components in 2017. The company no longer supports those models. It refers owners of those aircraft to Advanced Aero Components. Support for the Sportsman and GlaStar stays with Glasair Aviation.

In 2012 the Jilin Hanxing Group of China bought Glasair Aviation. The site calls the group a multinational conglomerate with big goals in general aviation. It says Glasair plays a central role as a design and development resource. The company also started a certification project for the Sportsman, to open new sales channels.

The home page carries a status note. It says that sales and manufacturing were paused because of the COVID-19 pandemic. A core team stayed on for customer support, parts orders and product development. A later news item says the company is selling kits again. Visitors should check the site for the current status.

Other pages cover the 2023 Sportsman and GlaStar catalog, kit pricing, an order form, support, an owners association and careers. The company lists events such as fly-ins and air shows, and a newsletter shares updates.