LOOPTV flight tests the two-seat kit-built Glasiar III. For more incredible flight tests and flying stories and of course aviation news: www.looptv.aero
I fly my dad’s Glasair 3. We do loops and rolls in it often. The builder (not us) built it too heavy, but it still cruises at 220 knots at 11,500 and gives more comfort than anything else I’ve flown; from a Maule, to a 177RG, Big 6 300, Viking, and Seneca. And far more economical and fun to fly. Landing it is not difficult; simply approach at 90 knots, glatten her out, and don’t rush the flare; just let the speed bleed off, keeping your eyes on the horizon, then with good timing, pull the stick aft. Simple to do, one beautiful , structurally incomparable, fast bird!
davoe, as I was growing up my father built the first Glasair II in the mid 80s. It took him a solid 3 years, and he did not "dilly dally" on the build. I believe he spent 3800 hours building. Glasair didn't offer any type of quick build options back in the those days, today you can have completed components of the aircraft on delivery. I'll try to find some vid's to post, they're really old.
Knew an airline check pilot that built one of these. He said that because of the high wing loading it was the hardest plane to land that he'd ever flown. Said he'd never had a landing that he considered was "greased on".
@Coderoid No. I have never heard or seen one in person that had any anti or de-icing equipment installed. It is an experimental home built so you could put that stuff on if you wanted to spend the money, and take a hit on the extra weight.
hi.no its not stock.it is supposed to be a stock airframe???,i dont know cause the vne of that plane is 335 miles per hour.he said this glasair is his personal transportation and it cruises at over 340 mph.a stock g3 with lyc. 300 hp engine is supposed to cruise @ 230 knots @ 15 gph it is very fast.very good safety record too.you can google for jeff lavelle air racer for more info or get back to me,i will be pleased to answer you.claude from montreal quebec,canada
@N137LA If people are not interested, then its not the design that is failed. Its the PR. I dont think people are not interested. I think people just dont want to spend that much money on that kind of a plane (hell I know I dont). The Fury's full kit costs 180k which is utterly ridiculous. The Glasair III is has higher rated performance but its price is 67% less. I did not know it was discontinued though.
last september,before the terrible mustang crash in reno,jeff lavelle qualified his twin turbo glasair3 @396 mph before the races were cancelled.in the sport class.its an absolute record.it is supposed to be a stock airframe.next races.i think he is gonna break the 400mph barrier.
I'm not a big fan of the IO540 as I've always found them to be not terribly smooth and a bit of a fuel pig. Good power and reliable though. Did they have a Continental option for the Glasairs?
Schluesselmensch They're fuel hungry but the plane is very fast. For cross country is far more economical than a 172 or 182. If you're a local flyer. I'd go with a cub or 152
hi.go to airrace.org,click on race results,sport class.this year,he won the gold.he flew the course at 393mph.i don t know what he did to that glasair,but it shurely hauls the mail.kevin eldredge nxt with the io720 lycoming is no match for that glasair.check the unlimited gold race results,only the first three had flown faster than him.have a good day.
I fly my dad’s Glasair 3. We do loops and rolls in it often. The builder (not us) built it too heavy, but it still cruises at 220 knots at 11,500 and gives more comfort than anything else I’ve flown; from a Maule, to a 177RG, Big 6 300, Viking, and Seneca. And far more economical and fun to fly.
Landing it is not difficult; simply approach at 90 knots, glatten her out, and don’t rush the flare; just let the speed bleed off, keeping your eyes on the horizon, then with good timing, pull the stick aft. Simple to do, one beautiful , structurally incomparable, fast bird!
I bought a Glasair and it's a great machine regularly cruise at 225kts plus and it handles like a fighter when you want it to!
He sounds a bit optimistic about how easy the build is. From his comments, you would think we was building an IKEA dresser!
A thrill to fly..even more gratifying when you help to build one. Landing are always a tense moment with the seemingly aft CG
Such a beautiful aircraft! Love the high performance sound!
Saw it, bought it, built it, flew it
100% going to buy one of these aircraft!
davoe, as I was growing up my father built the first Glasair II in the mid 80s. It took him a solid 3 years, and he did not "dilly dally" on the build. I believe he spent 3800 hours building. Glasair didn't offer any type of quick build options back in the those days, today you can have completed components of the aircraft on delivery. I'll try to find some vid's to post, they're really old.
They are nice aircraft to fly. I built mine in 4 1/2 years and now have 40 hours on it. VH-IDC
Aussie rego - where are you located? How comfortable is it for a taller person please? 6'4"?
Does the kit come with machine-gun option? Asking for a friend of course. :)
Knew an airline check pilot that built one of these. He said that because of the high wing loading it was the hardest plane to land that he'd ever flown. Said he'd never had a landing that he considered was "greased on".
@Coderoid No. I have never heard or seen one in person that had any anti or de-icing equipment installed. It is an experimental home built so you could put that stuff on if you wanted to spend the money, and take a hit on the extra weight.
KHarvDX, you can install de-icing, but being Experimental it is illegal to fly in know icing conditions.
Fast! Its got a P-51 thing going on during the flypast!
I think i'd lose in the C172N haha.
there's one for sale NOW for £20,000........ tempting!
Where?
hi.no its not stock.it is supposed to be a stock airframe???,i dont know cause the vne of that plane is 335 miles per hour.he said this glasair is his personal transportation and it cruises at over 340 mph.a stock g3 with lyc. 300 hp engine is supposed to cruise @ 230 knots @ 15 gph it is very fast.very good safety record too.you can google for jeff lavelle air racer for more info or get back to me,i will be pleased to answer you.claude from montreal quebec,canada
I thought the NXT gets about half the fuel mileage as the Glasair III though.
@N137LA
If people are not interested, then its not the design that is failed. Its the PR. I dont think people are not interested. I think people just dont want to spend that much money on that kind of a plane (hell I know I dont). The Fury's full kit costs 180k which is utterly ridiculous. The Glasair III is has higher rated performance but its price is 67% less. I did not know it was discontinued though.
IMO i prefer Lopresti Fury. It is not as fast but it handles much more like a fighter than glasair does.
What shrewd understanding of thermodynamics leads you to say that pray tell?
last september,before the terrible mustang crash in reno,jeff lavelle qualified his twin turbo glasair3 @396 mph before the races were cancelled.in the sport class.its an absolute record.it is supposed to be a stock airframe.next races.i think he is gonna break the 400mph barrier.
I'm not a big fan of the IO540 as I've always found them to be not terribly smooth and a bit of a fuel pig. Good power and reliable though. Did they have a Continental option for the Glasairs?
Schluesselmensch They're fuel hungry but the plane is very fast. For cross country is far more economical than a 172 or 182. If you're a local flyer. I'd go with a cub or 152
How much might it cost to build one of these?
i want one sooo badly ahaa
No aft cg problems even when load to max
Do you have a referrence for that?? that sounds a bit too fast, The Nemesis NXT puts up those kinds of numbers and this ain't no Nemesis.
Richard VanGrunsven
Van would have had Scott do that for him. :-)
hi.go to airrace.org,click on race results,sport class.this year,he won the gold.he flew the course at 393mph.i don t know what he did to that glasair,but it shurely hauls the mail.kevin eldredge nxt with the io720 lycoming is no match for that glasair.check the unlimited gold race results,only the first three had flown faster than him.have a good day.
Easy to land just fly it like a baron not a Cessna
It is it weird I can land a Cessna but cant land a Baron?
When you speed...
Irritating music
Only 2 seats, with 300 hp, what a waste of money
Depends on the mission. I can't go back to a 182 now.
Nice video really... but the music... childish and predictable.