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NEWS RELEASE
CUSTOMER TAKES SPORTSMAN AIRCRAFT FROM KIT TO FIRST FLIGHT
IN JUST THREE WEEKS!
March
13, 2006
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Arlington,
WA - It is now possible to build and taxi a new Sportsman in
two weeks, and start flying in three. Glasair Aviation recently
conducted a "beta test" of a revolutionary "2
Weeks To Taxi" customer assembly program for its Sportsman
2+2 aircraft where customer, Marc Cook, went from quick build
kit to 1st flight in 22 days. The project started on January
9th and, working only 8-hour days, five days a week, Cook completed
his aircraft on January 27th, and made his first flight on January
31st. An FAA representative toured the new program and facility;
reviewed the extensive program materials; inspected Cook's Sportsman;
and, concluded that both the aircraft and the program comply
with the letter and spirit of the 51 percent rule relating to
Amateur-Built aircraft.
Upon
completing his new Sportsman, Cook, editor-in-chief of Kitplanes
Magazine and former AOPA Pilot senior editor, labeled the program
"truly revolutionary", stating that, besides the rapid
completion time and high quality finished product, the most
impressive feature of the program was the valuable education
he received about building and maintaining his Sportsman. He
noted that he understood and knew more about maintaining his
Sportsman in three weeks than he learned on his own about the
Pulsar he built and flew over a period of three years.
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Glasair
Aviation will debut the new "2 Weeks To Taxi" program
at Sun 'n Fun, with deliveries estimated to be available starting
the 4th quarter of 2006.
According
to Glasair President Mikael Via, "Traditionally, the biggest
objections to a kit aircraft have been: (1) the huge time commitment
required, (2) the uncertainty of the total cost of the finished
aircraft, and (3) the uncertainty of one's skills to complete
a quality project. All of these obstacles have now been eliminated
with our unique '2 Weeks To Taxi' program," said Via. "Before
they even start, '2 Weeks To Taxi' customers know how much it
will cost and they are comforted by the fact that, with assistance
of our staff and use of our facilities, tools and fixtures,
it will only take them two weeks to complete the project."
"During
the two weeks, customers are immersed in a recreational and
educational setting. They take full advantage of our resources
and have access to things that 'home builders' would not normally
have access to, including the use of hundreds of fixtures and
technical assistance from our staff. More importantly, customers
receive instruction on proper assembly and maintenance techniques
- frequent reference is made to FAA's Advisory Circular 43.13,
the Sportsman Assembly and Maintenance Manual and Pilot's Operating
Handbook. It's a unique program that delivers a complete aircraft
to the owner for a fixed price at an amazing schedule."
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"While
traditional kit builders can take up to 10 years to complete
their aircraft, '2 Weeks To Taxi' opens the thrill of building
to an entirely new group of pilots. Using a two-week vacation,
anyone can complete their Sportsman and taxi it. With another
week of safety inspections and finishing touches, they can enjoy
the thrill of flying the aircraft that they built."
The
Sportsman 2+2 can be configured as a tricycle or taildragger
to accommodate two adults and two children or the rear seats
can be removed to haul more baggage or camping equipment. The
aircraft can be flown with wheels, floats or skis. It has a
1,000-pound useful load and lands or takes off in 400 feet.
With the new Lycoming I0-390, it cruises at 170 mph.
For
more information on the Sportsman 2+2 and the new "2 Weeks
To Taxi" program, visit www.glasairaviation.com or call
(360) 435-8533 Ext. 3.
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The
Three Week Airplane: with factory
assistance this Sportsman 2+2 went from
a standard fast build kit to the active runway
in 22 days (18 workdays).
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