Sonex Aircraft Sonex Explained

The Onex, Sonex, Waiex and Xenos are a family of lightweight, metal, low-wing, two seat homebuilt aircraft. Kits are produced and marketed by Sonex Aircraft, a small manufacturer based in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. By 2014, 500 customer built aircraft had been completed.[1] The Sonex can also be built from plans.[2] [3] [4]

Company founder John Monnett was approached by an Italian business looking for an aircraft that would meet their Microlight category. A variation of Sonerai was initially proposed to meet the 40 mph minimum flight speed requirement. Eventually a clean-sheet design was built around a Jabiru or VW engine installation with similar all-aluminum box fuselage construction as the Monnett Moni.[5] The Sonex can accept various lightweight – less than 2000NaN0 – engines of between 80and.[6] [7]

The Sonex, Waiex and Xenos all qualify as American experimental light-sport aircraft (ELSA).[8]

Development

The Sonex plans contain several construction options, including conventional or tricycle landing gear, as well as a center or dual stick. Motor mount drawings are supplied for all three recommended powerplants: the 2180cc Volkswagen, 2200 Jabiru, and 3300 Jabiru. High performance is achieved through a clean aerodynamic shape and simple, light weight construction.

The Sonex can be built from scratch using factory supplied drawings or may be assembled in approximately 800 to 1,000 hours using the precut complete airframe kit. A complete kit based Sonex can be constructed for as little as USD$25,600.[9] [10]

The aviation website Aero-News.Net named the Sonex the Plane Of The Year - E-LSA Kit Category for 2006.[11]

Variants

Sonex
  • The original model, incorporating a low-wing design, seats two, and a conventional tail. Available as plans or a kit.[12]
    Sonex B
  • Introduced in April 2016, this model is a modification of the original Sonex, with an enlarged cockpit for larger and taller pilots, a center "Y-stick", electric flaps and dual throttles as standard. Support for the CAMit 3300 was offered and more room for the Rotax 912 and ULPower UL350i series of engines.[13] [14]
    Waiex
  • In production - Almost identical to the Sonex, but features a Y-tail.[15] Although similar in looks to a V-tail, the Y-tail has a stub rudder in line with the aft fuselage.[16] The company markets this version under the motto Just Because It Looks Cool. Available as a kit only.[4] [6] [17] First flew on 19 July 2003.[18]
    Waiex B
  • Introduced April 2016 - Same improvements as Sonex B[19]
    e-Flight Waiex
  • Waiex electric aircraft variant, powered by a DC brushless electric motor, built in 2007 and first displayed at AirVenture in 2009. Available as a kit only.[6] First flew in 2010.[20]
    Xenos
  • In production - motor-glider development of the Waiex with longer wings and the same choice of engines. Available as a kit only.[6] [21]
    Onex
  • (pronounced One-ex by the company) In production[22] - All new design introduced at Airventure 2009. The design features a single seat with folding wings and an AeroVee Volkswagen air-cooled engine.[23] [24]
    Teros
  • (2015) A proposed UAV, developed with Navmar Applied Sciences Corporation using the Waiex airframe powered by a turbocharged Aero-Vee engine.[25]
    SubSonex
  • A single place single engine turbine aircraft similar in design to an Onex, with a Waiex style Y tail. Introduced at Airventure 2009. Powered by a Czech-built PBS TJ-100 turbojet engine mounted above the aft fuselage, with the exhaust exiting between the Y-tail. The SubSonex achieved first engine test runs in December 2009. The engine produces 2400NaN0 of thrust. Originally developed with only a central mono pod wheel, tail wheel and small wing tip outriggers. The prototype developed directional controllability problems during taxi-tests. The SubSonex now has a tricycle landing gear.[26] [27] [28] [29] and was flight tested by Jet-sailplane performer Bob Carlton in August 2011.[30]

    External links

    Notes and References

    1. Sport Aviation. January 2015. 14. Sonex reports 500th completion.
    2. Vandermeullen, Richard: 2011 Kit Aircraft Buyer's Guide, Kitplanes, Volume 28, Number 12, December 2011, page 70. Belvoir Publications. ISSN 0891-1851
    3. Downey, Julia: 2008 Kit Aircraft Directory, Kitplanes, Volume 24, Number 12, December 2007, page 72. Primedia Publications. ISSN 0891-1851
    4. Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12, pages 119-120. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X
    5. Sport Aviation. The Sonex. Aug 1998. Jack Cox.
    6. Tacke, Willi; Marino Boric; et al: World Directory of Light Aviation 2015-16, pages 81 & 126. Flying Pages Europe SARL, 2015.
    7. Web site: The Sonex-B Kit. 21 November 2015. sonexaircraft.com.
    8. Web site: Experimental Light-Sport Aircraft (E-LSA). https://web.archive.org/web/20060810211940/http://www.sportpilot.org/learn/lsa/likely_lsa.html. dead. 10 August 2006. 19 December 2010. Experimental Aircraft Association. 2010.
    9. Kitplanes Staff: 2008 Kit Aircraft Directory, page 72, Kitplanes Magazine December 2007 Volume 24, Number 12, Belvior Publications, Aviation Publishing Group LLC.
    10. Web site: Affordable. https://web.archive.org/web/20080827131625/http://sonexaircraft.com/ads/affordable/index.html. dead. 2008-08-27. 2010-01-07.
    11. Web site: Final: ANN Names the 2006 Plane Of The Year--E-LSA Kit Category. 2008-03-15. Aero-News Network. January 2007.
    12. Web site: Sonex - the Original Reality Check. https://web.archive.org/web/20051125071904/http://www.sonexaircraft.com/aircraft/sonex.html. dead. 2005-11-25. 2008-10-09. Sonex Aircraft. 2008.
    13. Web site: Sonex -- The Sport Aircraft Reality Check!. www.sonexaircraft.com. 2016-08-04.
    14. Web site: Sonex shows new B models for first time. 5 April 2016. 2016-04-02.
    15. Web site: Specifications - Tail Configuration: Y-tail. https://web.archive.org/web/20060405030020/http://www.sonexaircraft.com/aircraft/waiex.html. dead. 2006-04-05. 2010-01-06. Sonex Aircraft. 2010.
    16. Kitplanes, April 2005, Page 21
    17. Web site: Waiex - Just Because It Looks Cool. https://web.archive.org/web/20060405030020/http://www.sonexaircraft.com/aircraft/waiex.html. dead. 2006-04-05. 2008-10-09. Sonex Aircraft. 2008.
    18. Web site: Xenos Development Archive . Sonex . 29 July 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20060819164542/http://www.sonexaircraft.com/aircraft/xenosdev/xenosarchive1.html . 19 August 2006.
    19. Web site: Sonex Introduces New B-Models. AVweb. 7 April 2016. 2016-04-05.
    20. News: Horne . Thomas A. . Sonex Electric-Powered Waiex Makes First Flight . 29 July 2024 . AOPA . 6 December 2010.
    21. Web site: Xenos. https://web.archive.org/web/20060405025949/http://www.sonexaircraft.com/aircraft/xenos.html. dead. 2006-04-05. 2008-10-09. Sonex Aircraft. 2008.
    22. Web site: Onex Progress Update: January 26, 2012 . Sonex Aircraft Onex . 2012-01-27 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120129035505/http://www.sonexaircraft.com/research/updates/onex/onex_update_012612.html . January 29, 2012 .
    23. Web site: Onex. 2010-01-06. Sonex Aircraft. January 2010. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110516011247/http://www.sonexaircraft.com/research/onex.html. 2011-05-16.
    24. Web site: Sonex Onex. 26 July 2010. Cook. Mark. July 2010.
    25. Web site: Sonex, Navmar To Produce UAVs. 4 May 2015. May 2015.
    26. Web site: First Flight Expected Soon For Jet-Powered Sonex. 2009-12-31. Grady. Mary. December 2009.
    27. Web site: SubSonex Progress Updates. 2009-12-31. Sonex Aircraft. December 2009. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20090827003023/http://www.sonexaircraft.com/research/subsonex.html. 2009-08-27.
    28. Web site: Jet-Powered Glider Completes Test Flights. 10 June 2010. Grady. Mary. June 2010.
    29. Web site: Sonex -- The Sport Aircraft Reality Check!. sonexaircraft.com. 7 April 2016.
    30. Web site: SubSonex Jet Completes Maiden Flight . 5 September 2011.

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