Glasair III for the win

txflyer

txflyer

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Fly it like you STOL it ♦
After exhausting all inquiries into owning the perfect airplane, I have about given up and settled on the Glasair III.

My mission:

Aerobatic
Fast
X-country
Supported and in production
Reasonable ongoing cost: maintenance, etc...
Parts and components availability
Re-sale
Insurability


.... :loco::wink2:
 
Contact Korey @ koreystafford@gmail.com

He was helpful in an inquiry I made about a Lancair (N169BZ)... Also familiar with Glasairs, I believe. He is a broker, I believe.

He might even be in TX.

Good luck! Post what you end up with.. There are a few good examples for sale on the popular sites for $100-150k.
 
I would love to know if you feel the same after buying and owning one for a while.

txflyer said:
After exhausting all inquiries into owning the perfect airplane, I have about given up and settled on the Glasair III.

My mission:

Aerobatic
Fast
X-country
Supported and in production
Reasonable ongoing cost: maintenance, etc...
Parts and components availability
Re-sale
Insurability


.... :loco::wink2:
Click to expand...
 
Tony_Scarpelli said:
I would love to know if you feel the same after buying and owning one for a while.
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Sure.

I have my eyes on one up around Dallas. If it works out, I'll let you know.

I'm researching all about them. I have not dug in yet to see if there are any bad AD's or other nasty's I'm not privy to. I have not joined Glasair.org builder's site, so I can't read all the skinny in there yet.
 
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Even tho I'd never buy one, can't wait to see how it does for ya
 
I've flown the Glasair III, and it's a double-handful -- take a 172 pilot and put him/her in one, and the plane will be 20 miles in front of them for a long time. In many ways, it reminds me of flying the F-16. Lose the engine in the pattern, and you're pretty well hosed, since once you put the gear/flaps down, it takes 2000 feet vertically to make a 180-degree turn. Speed control on final is absolutely critical -- a bit slow and the bottom falls out, a bit fast and you're off the far end of the runway.

Make sure you are really prepared to move into a very hot airplane and get training from someone who knows the airplane well. FWIW, PIC used to have a contract with Glasair to do Glasair III training for new owners.
 
Like Ron said, no ADs. Get on their website and you'll see a bunch of SBs though. Hopefully the previous owner complied with all of them.
 
Ron Levy said:
I don't think there's such a thing as an AD on an E-AB aircraft.
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I've read enough to know I'm not going from the 180 into the III without some transition training. I wouldn't attempt it even if the insurance Co. allowed it.

I don't have all the experimental acronyms down yet. E-AB, E-LSA, LSA, MF-experimental, GD-kit built, etc... I don't know **** from shinola really. ADs, SBs, Bulletins, whatever. You catch my drift ...

I just fly the **** out of airplanes. :D
 
txflyer said:
I've read enough to know I'm not going from the 180 into the III without some transition training.
Click to expand...
"Some transition training"? Figure at least 4-5 days (all day, every day) to be anything close to safe including IFR operations if you have no experience in anything like this before. This is not even in the same universe as your Cessna 180.
 
mikegreen said:
Contact Korey @ koreystafford@gmail.com

He was helpful in an inquiry I made about a Lancair (N169BZ)... Also familiar with Glasairs, I believe. He is a broker, I believe.

He might even be in TX.

Good luck! Post what you end up with.. There are a few good examples for sale on the popular sites for $100-150k.
Click to expand...


Hey thanks. There are a few on the net right around that price range.

Acquisition cost is becoming less and less a factor I'm learning in my way of thinking. I'm more interested in performance, ongoing costs, re-sale, and upgrade-ability is a big one nowadays too. Keeping up with tech in a certified aircraft is super $$$$.
 
Ron Levy said:
"Some transition training"? Figure at least 4-5 days (all day, every day) to be anything close to safe including IFR operations if you have no experience in anything like this before. This is not even in the same universe as your Cessna 180.
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O.k.

no problem. :)

Next?
 
you should come to AOPA Summit Oct 10-12 and check out both the airplane and the Summit. I will be there as will others on the forums.

txflyer said:
Sure.

I have my eyes on one up around Dallas. If it works out, I'll let you know.

I'm researching all about them. I have not dug in yet to see if there are any bad AD's or other nasty's I'm not privy to. I have not joined Glasair.org builder's site, so I can't read all the skinny in there yet.
Click to expand...
 
Tony_Scarpelli said:
you should come to AOPA Summit Oct 10-12 and check out both the airplane and the Summit. I will be there as will others on the forums.
Click to expand...


I would love to if I had a GIII to get there.... as it stands, my 180 would wear my butt out I'm afraid, but I'll be there in spirit!

Thanks for the invite. Maybe next year when I have a 270m.p.h. airplane!

Oh snap! I see it's in Fort Worth. I'll try to make it.....
 
txflyer said:
I would love to if I had a GIII to get there.... as it stands, my 180 would wear my butt out I'm afraid, but I'll be there in spirit!

Thanks for the invite. Maybe next year when I have a 270m.p.h. airplane!

Oh snap! I see it's in Fort Worth. I'll try to make it.....
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Next year it aint happening
 
Porn time.


GlasairIIIoutsideturn.jpg


asg3_02.jpg


DSC_1006%20Glasair%20III%20N43PB%20left%20side%20in%20flight%20l.jpg
 
Insurance is going to be $$$$.
 
Velocity173 said:
Insurance is going to be $$$$.
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I'm expecting a shocker on that one for hull value. I have not had a quote yet.

There's no bank involved, so I may carry liability only until Bill (my insurance guy) says he can sleep better, and he'll cover the hull for a reasonable cost.

One path of logic is, in a GIII, if you crack it, chances are it's going to be ultra-bad and the lost hull value will not make my widow poor.
 
txflyer said:
I'm expecting a shocker on that one for hull value. I have not had a quote yet.

There's no bank involved, so I may carry liability only until Bill (my insurance guy) says he can sleep better, and he'll cover the hull for a reasonable cost.

One path of logic is, in a GIII, if you crack it, chances are it's going to be ultra-bad and the lost hull value will not make my widow poor.
Click to expand...

I'd be more worried about a gear up or hitting something while taxing for insurance reasons than going splat
 
txflyer said:
I've read enough to know I'm not going from the 180 into the III without some transition training. I wouldn't attempt it even if the insurance Co. allowed it.

I don't have all the experimental acronyms down yet. E-AB, E-LSA, LSA, MF-experimental, GD-kit built, etc... I don't know **** from shinola really. ADs, SBs, Bulletins, whatever. You catch my drift ...

I just fly the **** out of airplanes. :D
Click to expand...

Man, you'd make a great Southwest Airlines pilot !
 
So, what's a realistic cruise speed for the Glasair III? At what altitude? (Not stressing the engine beyond what's reasonable)?

What is the ceiling?

This seems to be the most "bang for your buck" aircraft if you want speed, speed and more speed...?

Dan
 
dans2992 said:
So, what's a realistic cruise speed for the Glasair III? At what altitude? (Not stressing the engine beyond what's reasonable)?

What is the ceiling?

This seems to be the most "bang for your buck" aircraft if you want speed, speed and more speed...?

Dan
Click to expand...



I don't see them listing a ceiling ... :confused:

http://www.glasairaviation.com/glasairspecs.html

The few owners I've talked to have all confirmed it is a true 250knot airplane.
 
They're cramped. I sat in one, makes a Mooney feel like a Beech. But hey for a solo speed machine, they're hard to beat.
 
30Lb/sq ft wing loading.

Gulp.

Don't fall.
 
Devil's advocate:
3960875168_15fb35b124.jpg

3455_800.jpg


But in all seriousness, if gentleman aerobatics is one of your priorities I'd recommend the Glass over the Lance.
 
docmirror said:
30Lb/sq ft wing loading.

Gulp.

Don't fall.
Click to expand...


That's the thing. Without power, they fall like the space shuttle.

2000 f.p.m. down I think is about average.

Wing extensions and slotted flaps are options that help.
 
hindsight2020 said:
They're cramped. I sat in one, makes a Mooney feel like a Beech. But hey for a solo speed machine, they're hard to beat.
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I'm worried about that. I have not sat down in one, but looked inside. It's Spartan compared to a fat Piper no doubt, and I'm 6'2".

If a plane is not comfortable, that's a big no-no unless it's just for fifteen minutes of balls to the wall aerobatics or something else ....

One owner I talked to was over 6' and he said no problem. We shall see ...
 
I'm saving for the turboprop!
 

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txflyer said:
That's the thing. Without power, they fall like the space shuttle.
Click to expand...

Like "Car keys" comes to mind. Pretty planes, and I liked the early tailwheel, but these later things are beyond me.
 
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