Joe Brown’s Sportsman 2 + 2 and Two Weeks to Taxi

David Gustafson

Thursday, September 27, 2012 at 10:34 PM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

The Sportsman 2+2 kit aircraft company developed a "Two Weeks to Taxi" program designed to accelerate amateur aircraft construction.
This program leverages a specific interpretation of the FAA's 51% rule, allowing extensive builder assistance and pre-preparation of parts without exceeding the amateur-built classification.
Builders, guided by a team and utilizing pre-cut/drilled parts and organized tools, can complete a ready-to-fly aircraft in as little as 13 days.

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One of Tom Hamilton’s last designs before moving into commercial aviation was the GlaStar. After selling the company to the employees they made some significant changes to the design and relabeled it the Sportsman 2 + 2.

When the company was sold to Tom Wathen and placed in the hands of Mikael Via, the decision was made to launch a program no one had ever envisioned before: Three Weeks to Taxi. Experience provided efficiencies and the name changed to Two Weeks to Taxi.