Glasair Aviation's Generosity Provides Much Improved
SportPlane
An airplane that has
provided more than 3,000 young people with flight experiences
through the EAA Young Eagles program is ready to head back to the
sky today because of the generosity of Glasair Aviation of
Arlington, Wash.
The EAA Young Eagles GlaStar (N232YE) was officially returned to
EAA president Tom Poberezny today by Mikael Via, president and
Chief Operating Officer of Glasair Aviation LLC (manufacturer of
the GlaStar aircraft line) during an unveiling at the Sun 'n Fun
Fly-In in Lakeland, Fla. During a special ceremony, Poberezny
received the refurbished and highly upgraded airplane, which will
be flown back to Oshkosh.
"EAA is overwhelmed and very grateful to Glasair Aviation for
the initiative they took to make their wonderful airplane even
better," Poberezny said. "It showed the dedication of Glasair
Aviation to the Young Eagles program, which in turn will help
introduce flight to the next generation of pilots, including,
undoubtedly, future Glasair and GlaStar owners."
The kit for Young Eagles GlaStar N232YE was donated by EAA
supporter James Ray and completed in 1997 by the staff and
volunteers at EAA Headquarters in Oshkosh, Wis. It was the second
GlaStar built at EAA to support Young Eagle flights. In 1995,
Stoddard-Hamilton donated a tricycle version of the GlaStar,
N231YE, to assist the EAA Young Eagles Program. The airplanes were
primarily based and operated at the EAA AirVenture Museum's Pioneer
Airport in Oshkosh.
Following the 2004 flying season, EAA delivered N232YE to the
Glasair Aviation factory in Arlington, Wash., for routine
maintenance work. Glasair Aviation quickly completed the prescribed
maintenance work, but than expanded its focus to other areas of the
airplane.
"As I walked around the GlaStar sitting in our hangar, I thought
about the number of Young Eagles introduced to aviation in this
aircraft," Via said. "Because this GlaStar is truly an ambassador
for general aviation, EAA and our company, we took time to upgrade
the airplane's appearance and interior and make it the best we
could. We are very proud to provide this contribution to EAA's
Young Eagles program and to the future of flight."
Some of the upgrades include new main gear legs and fairings;
new fuel system; new windows; and a refurbished interior and
complete exterior paint scheme. The work represents a donation to
the EAA Young Eagles program in excess of $35,000.
"We sincerely thank Glasair Aviation owner Tom Wathen, Mikael
and the team at the factory for their efforts to refurbish this
airplane," Poberezny said. "We are proud of the support our EAA
members provide to the Young Eagles program and the support we
enjoy from industry leaders such as Glasair Aviation. Together we
are building the future of general aviation."
GlaStar N232YE will join its sister ship N231YE, and an RV-6A
(N7YE) in flying Young Eagles at Pioneer Airport and providing
support for this summer's EAA Air Academy camps. In addition, the
GlaStar will make several stops at selected EAA Young Eagle
events.