Glasair Aviation's Generosity Provides Much Improved SportPlane

An airplane that has provided more than 3,000 young people with flight experiences through the EAA Young Eagles program is ready to head back to the sky today because of the generosity of Glasair Aviation of Arlington, Wash.

The EAA Young Eagles GlaStar (N232YE) was officially returned to EAA president Tom Poberezny today by Mikael Via, president and Chief Operating Officer of Glasair Aviation LLC (manufacturer of the GlaStar aircraft line) during an unveiling at the Sun 'n Fun Fly-In in Lakeland, Fla. During a special ceremony, Poberezny received the refurbished and highly upgraded airplane, which will be flown back to Oshkosh.

"EAA is overwhelmed and very grateful to Glasair Aviation for the initiative they took to make their wonderful airplane even better," Poberezny said. "It showed the dedication of Glasair Aviation to the Young Eagles program, which in turn will help introduce flight to the next generation of pilots, including, undoubtedly, future Glasair and GlaStar owners."

The kit for Young Eagles GlaStar N232YE was donated by EAA supporter James Ray and completed in 1997 by the staff and volunteers at EAA Headquarters in Oshkosh, Wis. It was the second GlaStar built at EAA to support Young Eagle flights. In 1995, Stoddard-Hamilton donated a tricycle version of the GlaStar, N231YE, to assist the EAA Young Eagles Program. The airplanes were primarily based and operated at the EAA AirVenture Museum's Pioneer Airport in Oshkosh.

Following the 2004 flying season, EAA delivered N232YE to the Glasair Aviation factory in Arlington, Wash., for routine maintenance work. Glasair Aviation quickly completed the prescribed maintenance work, but than expanded its focus to other areas of the airplane.

"As I walked around the GlaStar sitting in our hangar, I thought about the number of Young Eagles introduced to aviation in this aircraft," Via said. "Because this GlaStar is truly an ambassador for general aviation, EAA and our company, we took time to upgrade the airplane's appearance and interior and make it the best we could. We are very proud to provide this contribution to EAA's Young Eagles program and to the future of flight."

Some of the upgrades include new main gear legs and fairings; new fuel system; new windows; and a refurbished interior and complete exterior paint scheme. The work represents a donation to the EAA Young Eagles program in excess of $35,000.

"We sincerely thank Glasair Aviation owner Tom Wathen, Mikael and the team at the factory for their efforts to refurbish this airplane," Poberezny said. "We are proud of the support our EAA members provide to the Young Eagles program and the support we enjoy from industry leaders such as Glasair Aviation. Together we are building the future of general aviation."

GlaStar N232YE will join its sister ship N231YE, and an RV-6A (N7YE) in flying Young Eagles at Pioneer Airport and providing support for this summer's EAA Air Academy camps. In addition, the GlaStar will make several stops at selected EAA Young Eagle events.

FMI: www.youngeagles.org, www.glasairaviation.com