Glasair’s First Certified Aircraft

April 6, 2016 - On March 29 Glasair Aviation of Arlington, Washington, received FAA certification of its Merlin Light-Sport Aircraft (LSA).

Glasair Aviation has been manufacturing high-end, composite kitplanes for nearly 40 years, first with its Glasair-series of high-performance, low-wing aircraft in the 1980s and later with its high-utility, high-wing GlaStar and Sportsman models.

Merlin LSA certification marks Glasair Aviation’s first entry into turnkey airplane production.  (The Merlin LSA will not be sold as a kit.) The company will target pilots whose desire is to buy-and-fly an affordable, comfortable, all-composite aircraft perfect for recreational flying.

Glasair Aviation also anticipates sales to training centers intent on upgrading to aircraft with excellent handling characteristics and the latest instrumentation. Sales will be through regional aircraft dealerships. Glasair Aviation is a subsidiary of the Jilin Hanxing Group of Jilin City, China, but the Merlin LSA will be an entirely U.S.-made aircraft.

Further Merlin LSA production is underway with the first customer deliveries expected in the third quarter this year.