December 15, 2009

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Chinese national XueQiang Si is building a Sportsman 2+2 at Glasair’s Two Weeks To Taxi program and, upon completion, will fly it to China. XueQiang Si, who will base his plane in city of Laiwu, in Shandong province, said that his Sportsman will be the first Experimental category aircraft to fly in the People’s Republic of China.

“There is no homebuilt category in China yet,” XueQiang Si said. “I will fly it with an N number first.”

XueQiang Si says he selected the Glasair Sportsman because of its STOL performance and because of the TWTT program, which enables customers to build the entire aircraft in two weeks. “It was perfect for me, because I not only saved so much time in building the aircraft, I also learned what I need to know to maintain my Sportsman,” he said.

Glasair’s program complies with the FAA’s new 51% rules, allowing customers to build the high-wing four-seat Sportsman with guidance from factory mechanics, the company says. Builders can select several choices of engines and a variety of instruments for their panels.

XueQiang Si’s Sportsman will feature one of the most advanced instrument panels of any aircraft coming from the TWTT program, and will include Advanced Flight System LCD glass screens with synthetic vision and a VP-200 climate control system.

“I am so excited about building and flying my Sportsman that I am planning an around-the-world flight,” XueQiang Si said.

For more information on the Sportsman, visit Glasair Aviation.