RV-9A vs Glastar....anyone with time on both?
 

Yeah, it's winter, WOXOF, so when not flying we tend to ruminate on these kind of things. An ad for a local aircraft for sale had me wondering.....
There are a LOT of varying performance numbers for the Glastar, not to mention the sibling OMF Symphony ( certified) which is a few hundred pounds heavier.

some days I wish I had more headroom, and space for my 'plus' size friends and their gear, but I'd sure miss the speed and climb of the -9.

slightly different mission to be sure, but can anyone verify that the Glastar with a 160 hp can really get in and out of grass airparks at gross? I've flown in 2 when I was looking to buy, but ended up with the -9a for the great skyward visibility...raised on low wings I guess.

appreciate any input, ( or just wild armchair speculation!)

Both
 

Hi, I have flown both, both of which were nose wheel types. I have flown 160 constant speed Glastars, and a 180 FP one too.

The 160 was owned by someone with 400 yard grass strip and operated from there for many years. They perform very well and of course have loads of space and luggage capacity.

The 180hp was operated by a friend off a 600 m grass strip again with no problems.

They have a similar feel in the controls but heavier more solid feeling.

I believe that Stan Markwell has owned both of these models. Not sure if he is on VAF, but he comes up with a google search.

A Glastar with 180hp and constant speed prop will get off the ground in a big hurry. The factory demo Sportsman with 180HP and C/S got off the ground at gross in 400 feet. Pretty respectable.

Expect high-speed (75%) cruise at 140kts and economy cruise (65%) at around 134kts on standard trike gear with wheel pants when equipped with 180hp and C/S prop.

One "big thing" that's come to the Glastar world is an aftermarket mod kit to install the large Sportsman cargo door. If I were to own a Glastar, this door mod would be a "must have". I love that big cargo door. In our airplane I can get 8 foot building material inside without any modifications to the aircraft.

Now for full disclosure. I'm building a Sportsman so I have a rather heavy bias. I have more time in a 9A than in a Glastar or Sportsman. The Sportsman fits our mission better than the 9A would. I'd be tickled pink to be able to have an airplane with the utility of the Sportsman and the economy of the 9A!

I have flown many of both airframes.

Glastars on wheels and on floats. 150hp fixed pitch to 180hp constant speed. Even one with a Subaru engine (ugh).

RV-6, RV-7, RV7-A, RV-8 RV-8A, RV-9, RV-9A. Also 150hp fixed pitch to 180hp constant speed.

The question on the comparison, however, can't easily be answered objectively as it is a classic "apples & oranges" scenario.

Glastars are definitely great airplanes. If a Glastar fits your mission, you can't go wrong.

That said, my personal mission is to go kinda fast, economically, with the ability to fly exhilarating sport aerobatics, and feel like the airplane is part of me. Since I can't fit a model airplane in the back of an RV-8 and still carry a passenger, my RV-7 fits my mission.

The negative...my face ALWAYS in pain from the constant grin.

Bob

Compare
 

This is good info as I have not flown in a sportsman. I should have my sportsman completed this summer. 210 hp. 390, 80 inch MT prop. Garmin touch screen, I hope it will be fun. I will NOT be selling our 8! Ron

I understand that those big doors may be in limited supply with only a few left. The last time I looked they weren't planning on making more.

On the other hand the Glastar is a great plane and good buy. I haven't flown but have drooled for years. Come to think of it, I haven't flown an RV yet either, but I'm building!

Bob

is this all that unusual???? build before flying????
 

drifting my own thread:eek:

so you guys are building a sportsman, or RV-12, but have never flown in one?

I guess I've been lucky, and must thank Jeff Liott and Peter Cattoni for my Glastar rides ( Jeff's with a beautiful running sube) and Rob Kennett for my first RV-6 ride!...which convinced me a rookie should get a -9! :)

This just reinforces the fact that the RV community probably gives a LOT of 'demo' flights, whether we know it or not.....no doubt part of the reason they are so popular!

I started a 9, but over time with delays and life being what it was, I switched to the 12 due the LSA advantages. I actually sat in a stationary 12...

Bob

Perry - I sat in the Glasair demo Sportsman on tundra tires while at Oshkosh a few years ago. After that encounter I was thinking I would really like a Sportsman, but realized I had something more like a Glastar budget. Then our neighbor, who, unbeknownst to me was building a Sportsman at a local airport, passed away after a brief battle with cancer. Through several twists of fate his Sportsman project became our Sportsman project. Every time I go to the hangar I look at that airplane in awe. Partly because it's an incredible airplane, and partly because it's one I thought would never be within our reach.

I'm glad that Jeff and Peter gave you rides - you've been fortunate to experience two very nice Glastars. A couple from Toronto who have a beautiful Glastar travelled up to visit us and to give both my wife and I a ride in their airplane. My wife had quite the grin when she came back from that flight! Prior to that flight I thought I'd lost her to my hangar-mate's RV8A. Had it not been for the look of shock when she saw the size of the 8's relatively tiny baggage areas i think I would be building an 8 now instead of a Sportsman.

(To all who would flame me for describing the 8's baggage areas as "relatively tiny", please try to place an 8 foot long 2x4 in an RV8, then come back and tell me how it went. We can place 8 foot long building material in our Sportsman without any modifications. THAT's the kind of baggage area the RV8 is being compared to! :D )