Montana Floats give the Glastar access to nation's waterways

It started out as a taildragger, was converted to a trike and now the versatile Sportsman 2+2 has been adapted to amphibious floats.  Glasair Aviation, which manufactures Sportsman kits, plans to add lakes and rivers to the resume, making it an aircraft that is truly adaptable to all seasons.

The amphibious Montana Floats increase the gross weight of the GlaStar from 2,350 to 2,500 pounds.  Sea level water takeoffs, at gross, break the surface in 15 seconds or 1,300 feet.  Splashdowns occur at approximately 40 knots.  Range with full fuel is 600 miles with a cruise speed of 110 knots.

“What our test pilots found remarkable is the ease of handling in the air, on the water and on runways,” said Glasair President Mikael Via.  “As an amphibian it is every bit as easy to control in takeoff or landing as in trike or taildragger configuration.  And the beauty of it is in the fact that you can convert the aircraft to all three modes of landing in one day, with plenty of time for flying in between.”

The Sportsman 2+2 was designed to be used as a family aircraft, with seating for two adults in the front and two kids in the back.  In about one minute, the rear seats can be removed, converting the aircraft to a spacious bush plane that can accommodate enough camping gear to head off into the wilderness for a month.  It can also accommodate a couple large sets of golf clubs, skis, fishing or hunting equipment.

“The mission profile for the design team was to create an aircraft that could be used in as many recreational and business applications as possible,” said Via.  “We may very well have produced the most versatile aircraft ever designed.  Landing sites don’t have to be much more than a clearing or a large pond.  It’s a go-anywhere, do-anything airplane and it’s fun to fly.”

The Sportsman is being sold in standard and Pre-Built kits.  Both feature pre-drilled, matched-hole parts.  A factory program to assist builders desiring fast track construction is now booking two and three week assembly packages.

Financing is also available to qualified builders.  For more information on the Sportsman and all of its takeoff/landing possibilities, click on the FMI link below or phone the factory at (360) 435-8533, ext. 232.

FMI: www.glasairaviation.com