Glasair 1rg build time

[amiller]

Hi there,
I was curious about a partially complete glasair 1rg kit that I found for sale and started googling around for info, but I haven't been able to find the estimated time it would take to complete the whole aircraft. If anyone could please tell me, that would be great. Thanks

[Todd copeland]

Really hard to say. What stage of completion is it now? How experienced are you with building? Those are more important questions in my view. Glasair I's are pretty lengthy builds by today's kit standards but if it's well along it might be much less in terms of time. If it is well along, how confident are you in your ability to pick up the project midstream? Glasairs are great planes, lots of fun to build, but you asked a tough question in this case.

[amiller]

The advertisement says the plane is about 50% complete. It is still missing an engine, instruments, and interior. I am still a student pilot but my father and I are both fairly good with tools, however this would be our first aircraft build.

[Todd copeland]

I would recomend going and finding someone near you that is building a glasair. Spend some time asking questions and carefully looking at the process. If you conclude that it is something you want to do, then go for it.

[amiller]

OK. Thanks

[martymayes]

I would plan 2000-2500 man hrs to complete the project. Of course, I'm optimistic.

[cub builder]

Build time depends a great deal on how driven you are and how quickly you pick up skills. A 2 year project for one person may be a 10 year project for another. The GlasAir 1 is a great flying plane, but at pattern speed, the nose tends to wonder a bit in pitch. Seems to me there is a mod for larger tail feathers that addresses low speed stability issues. If you're a big guy, getting in and out may be difficult. As others have recommended, go find a GlasAir builder and see how much time he's put in, and how long he's been working on it. Get your hands into some glass work. Composite fabrication is universally hated by those that haven't done much of it (and the vinylester resins smell really bad), but once you develop some skills and learn what you're doing, you will be amazed at how quickly you can fab up composite parts.

-Cub Builder

[Byron J. Covey]

Build time depends ... (and the vinylester resins smell really bad), ...

-Cub Builder

Some of us have learned to love the smell of curing VE. :)


BJC

[Todd copeland]

Some of us have learned to love the smell of curing VE. :)


BJC

actualy true....hangar just feels right with the presents of that odor.

[cub builder]

Some of us have learned to love the smell of curing VE. :)


BJC

My olfactory senses are sufficiently damaged to enjoy the smell of vinylester resins :rollseyes: , but to the uninitiated (and often times the spouse if you're building at home), it's like that first bite of a red hot chili! It takes some time and multiple exposures to adapt.;)

Vinylester isn't my first choice of resin for construction, but GlasAir chose it for a number of reasons, part of which is the flexibility of temperatures and conditions for construction. Another was the cost for their premolded parts as prepregs cost a lot more to produce. Once you convince yourself the smell of vinylester curing is the smell of progress, it grows on you. :)

-Cub Builder

[Glas467]

I have a Glasair I-RG, although I'm not the original builder, it appears the total build time on my plane was in the 2500 hour range. My plane was started by the original purchaser in 1988, bought by the subsequent builder in 1991 at approx. the "30% done" stage (tail feathers completed, fuselage halves joined), and completed in mid-1995, about 7 calendar years hands-on build time based on the logs with the builder putting in solid work every month from purchase to certification.

Be sure to look for the large size rudder upgrade, if the kit has the original small tail feathers, call Glasair Aviation first to make sure the upgrade kits are still in stock or can be obtained before you commit to purchase. This is especially critical if the kit has the extended wingtip option -- there's an SB that makes it essentially mandatory to have the large rudder with extended wingtips, take a look at the service letters and bulletins section on Glasairaviation.com for the G-1 and you'll learn a lot of what to look for on any kit purchase.

Lastly, and probably most importantly, make sure full and complete builder's logs with pictures convey with any kit purchase, it is helpful to also have the original kit purchase invoice and receipts for any subsequent upgrade purchases -- without these you may run into significant problems when it comes time for initial inspection and airworthiness certification. Make sure all volumes of the builder's manuals are present as well plus installation instructions for any optional upgrades.

I have had good experience with Performance One Aviation's Heath L'Hoste who did the pre-buy on my plane as well as it's first annual condition inspection. Heath would be a good expert to answer questions as well. Other Glasair experts I know of include Lou Kits at Kitplanes Northwest, Lannie Rundell at Legend Aircraft, and Brad Simmons at Airframes Inc.

All the best,
Reggie