How Do You Improve the "Perfect" SportPlane? More Elbow Room!

New GlaStar has introduced an all-new aircraft: the "Sportsman 2 + 2". This design complements the original and highly popular GlaStar that was rolled out in 1995. The 2 + 2 designation indicates that with optional rear seats, the sportsman can accommodate two adults and two other people up to 5' tall. As compared to the GlaStar, the Sportsman has a roomier cabin in height and length, and a generously sized third door to accommodate back seat passengers or bulky cargo.

The aircraft has been designed to fly with tundra tires, with floats or skis. It can be built with fittings that will allow quick, easy conversion from tricycle to taildragger or floatplane. Skis can be used in either the trike or taildragger configuration.

With significantly beefed up landing gear, wings, wing struts, safety cage, and fuselage it has a gross weight increase of 340 pounds over the original GlaStar. This gives the Sportsman a useful load of nearly 1,000 lbs or half a ton!

As its name implies, the Sportsman is intended for pilots who want to explore backcountry areas or pursue other areas of recreational flight requiring a large baggage area and high useful load.

Designed for STOL performance, the Sportsman gets off the ground in 300', climbs from sea level at 1,300 fpm, cruises at 160 mph/140 kts, with a max speed of 171 mph/145 kts. Enlarged flaps provide positive control in slow flight. Landing speed is 49 mph/43 kts. and rollout is a mere 300', which can easily be accomplished in an open field, on a shoreline, dirt road, or river. Paved runways are also acceptable.

Big Brother Is Here!

"The Sportsman is the Glastar's big brother," said Ted Setzer, V.P. of Research & Development at New GlaStar, and the project manager of the Sportsman. "The Sportsman has almost a half-ton useful load, and, with two pilots, full fuel, the aircraft will not only haul over 300 pounds of gear, cargo or extra passengers, but it will easily handle all of the bulky stuff you never thought you'd take with you in your airplane. It can accommodate 2 sets of golf clubs, snow skis, 9' fishing rods, folding tables, chairs, aluminum framed backpacks, all kinds of camping, hiking and scuba gear, and lots of it!" said Setzer. "And you can haul that load 600 miles in four hours and still have a half hour's fuel reserve."

Available as a Jump Start Kit, the Sportsman comes with all critical alignments and basic structure having been assembled at the factory. A redesigned wing structure has increased strength, provides excellent access for ease of riveting and a significantly lower build time. Expanded overhead windows enhance visibility.

"This is a kit intended for the builder who wants to get out to the flight line as quickly as possible," said New GlaStar President Mikael Via. "The kit conforms to the 51 percent ruling, yet a tremendous amount of the tedious labor has been eliminated by the factory. When completed, the Sportsman offers performance and versatility superior to anything in its class. While it can be flown cross country, this is a machine that really delivers adventure."

FMI: www.newglasair.com