Helped a friend with his new-to-him Glastron - Porn

Hobobiker

Hobobiker

Line Up and Wait
Joined
Aug 2, 2012
Messages
556
Location
Montpelier, OH
Display Name
Display name:
Hobo
My good friend / CFI sold his Dakota and was in the market for a nice LSA since he doesn't haul around four people on a regular basis anymore. He flew from PA to FL and picked up a nice Glasair Glastron and flew her back to PA. Thanks to another POA member, I can clarify that this bird is NOT an LSA (too heavy), but was the one that finally got my friend's money).

We detected some hairline cracks in two of the heads, one of which had been previously repaired. Before long, new jugs from Lycoming had arrived and we tore her down and replaced all four. He also had a local guy do some great work on the interior.

Thought I would show a couple of pics. One of her after we just put on the lower cowl (for the air cleaner usage) and fired her up to inspect for leaks:



A pic of the awesome work done on the seats:



And finally, since I'm a motor guy, a pic of the newly-installed top end. Safety wire is there to secure the front of the cowling from vibrating into regions that might cause harm to the new paint, starter ring, nearby pilots, etc:




He and I were going to take her up Friday night, but storms moved in. He was able to go up solo this weekend for an hour. No leaks, no issues, which are both signs that we did more stuff right that we did wrong. LOL!
 
Last edited:
Hobobiker said:
My good friend / CFI sold his Dakota and was in the market for a nice LSA since he doesn't haul around four people on a regular basis anymore. He flew from PA to FL and picked up a nice Glasair Glastron and flew her back to PA.

We detected some hairline cracks in two of the heads, one of which had been previously repaired. Before long, new jugs from Lycoming had arrived and we tore her down and replaced all four. He also had a local guy do some great work on the interior.

Thought I would show a couple of pics. One of her after we just put on the lower cowl (for the air cleaner usage) and fired her up to inspect for leaks:



A pic of the awesome work done on the seats:



And finally, since I'm a motor guy, a pic of the newly-installed top end. Safety wire is there to secure the front of the cowling from vibrating into regions that might cause harm to the new paint, starter ring, nearby pilots, etc:




He and I were going to take her up Friday night, but storms moved in. He was able to go up solo this weekend for an hour. No leaks, no issues, which are both signs that we did more stuff right that we did wrong. LOL!
Click to expand...

You sure that this meets the requirements for LSA? I've flown a Symphony which is very similar and it's not even close to LSA.
 
Glasair makes an LSA, though I thought it was only in the testing phase. That looks like a Glastar, which is most assuredly not an LSA. The was a certificated version of it called the Symphony.
 
Witmo said:
You sure that this meets the requirements for LSA? I've flown a Symphony which is very similar and it's not even close to LSA.
Click to expand...

To be honest Tim, I know he was originally looking for an LSA but your question made me shoot him a text. He says the bird is too heavy to be LSA. So, she's just an experimental (running a certificated engine).

Thanks for helping me clarify that one!

Wade
 
Glasair LSA is called the Merlin, as noted still in testing. None of their other aircraft qualify as LSA.

It is a beauty though!
 
The Merlin does look nice. Superficially, it looks a lot like a composite 162 to me.
It has been said that what was wrong with the 162 was the weight penalty due to Cessna's selection of the O-200 over the Rotax.
The Merlin has a Rotax, but it sounds like they ended up with a useful load (and pricetag) on par with that of the 162 anyway...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top