Sonex Aircraft SubSonex explained

The SubSonex is an experimental, single-seat, amateur-built jet aircraft from Sonex Aircraft's "Hornet's Nest" development division.

Design and development

The JSX-1 is a single place, single engine jet aircraft similar in design to an Onex, with a Waiex style Y tail, fixed main landing gear and a retractable nosewheel. Introduced at AirVenture 2009, it is powered by a Czech-built PBS TJ100 turbojet engine mounted above the aft fuselage, with the exhaust exiting between the Y-tail. It achieved first engine test runs in December 2009. The engine produces 1100 N (240 lb) of thrust. Originally developed with only a central mono pod wheel, tail wheel and small wing tip outriggers, the prototype exhibited directional controllability problems during taxi tests. It was flight tested by jet-sailplane performer Bob Carlton in August 2011.[1] [2]

The production model of the SubSonex is the JSX-2. The landing gear was changed to a fully retractable, pneumatically-operated tricycle configuration.[3] [4] [5] [6]

At AirVenture 2013 the company began taking US$10,000 deposits on production kits. The kit's projected price was US$125,000 in 2013 and US$135,000 in 2014.[2] [7]

The first JSX-2 kit was shipped to a customer in February 2015,[8] [9] and completed and flown in October 2015.[10]

Operational history

By January 2022, 17 examples had been registered in the United States with the Federal Aviation Administration.[11] [12]

Variants

JSX-1
  • Prototype version.
    JSX-2
  • Second version with a BRS parachute, wider fuselage, more streamlined nose, and fully retractable undercarriage.[13] Bob Carlton performed the first test flight with the prototype JSX-2 on 10 July 2014 from Wittman Field.[14] Entered production as an amateur-built kit in the fall of 2014.[15] [16]
    JSX-2T
  • Two-seats in side-by-side configuration version announced in July 2019. It will use the same PBS TJ-100 turbojet engine with the PBS TJ-150 as an option. The design is projected to offer a cruise speed of over 1740NaN0 and an estimated useful load of 9700NaN0.[17] The aircraft was expected to be first publicly displayed at Airventure in July 2020, but the event was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[18] [19]
    NASC Tracer
  • Twin-jet UAV model for military and civil applications, designed by Sonex and the Navmar Applied Sciences Corporation (NASC)[20]

    External links

    Notes and References

    1. News: Whitfield . Bethany . SubSonex Jet Completes Maiden Flight . Flying . 16 August 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110818125038/http://www.flyingmag.com/aircraft/jets/subsonex-jet-completes-maiden-flight . 18 August 2011.
    2. Tacke, Willi; Marino Boric; et al: World Directory of Light Aviation 2015-16, page 126. Flying Pages Europe SARL, 2015.
    3. News: Grady. Mary. First Flight Expected Soon For Jet-Powered Sonex. 31 December 2009. AVweb. 30 December 2009. https://archive.today/20220810151255/https://www.avweb.com/news/first-flight-expected-soon-for-jet-powered-sonex/. 10 August 2022. live.
    4. News: Grady. Mary. Jet-Powered Glider Completes Test Flights. 10 June 2010. AVweb. 7 June 2010.
    5. . SubSonex Jet Prototype Ready to Resume Testing. Oshkosh, WI. Sonex Aircraft. 22 July 2010. 21 June 2012.
    6. Web site: SubSonex Update: FAA NKET Checklist Posted, SubSonex Gets New Gear and New Test Flight Video Footage is Available!. 2 October 2020. Sonex Aircraft. Sonex Aircraft. campaign-archive.com. 2014. https://archive.today/20201002151857/https://us1.campaign-archive.com/?u=749bba5932a5bd5cc95950a5c&id=5b94932a25&e=97883e4567. 2 October 2020. live.
    7. Web site: Pew . Glenn . Sonex Accepts Deposits For Personal Jet - AVweb flash Article . Avweb.com . 31 July 2013.
    8. News: Kauh. Elaine. Sonex Begins Microjet Kit Deliveries. 20 February 2015. AVweb. 18 February 2015.
    9. Sport Aviation. 14. Sonex Aircraft Delivers First Subsonex Kit. August 2015.
    10. Web site: First Customer-Built SubSonex Jet Flies. Flying. Pope. Stephen. 7 May 2016.
    11. Web site: JSX-2 Make / Model Inquiry Results. 8 January 2022. Federal Aviation Administration. Federal Aviation Administration. 8 January 2022.
    12. Web site: Subsonex Make / Model Inquiry Results. 8 January 2022. Federal Aviation Administration. Federal Aviation Administration. 8 January 2022.
    13. Web site: SubSonex Progress Update: October 7, 2011. 21 June 2012. June 21, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120621215350/http://www.sonexaircraft.com/research/updates/subsonex/subsonex_update_100711.html. dead.
    14. News: Grady . Mary . Sonex Flies Single-Seat Jet . 29 July 2024 . AVweb . 14 July 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150910141047/http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/Sonex-Flies-Single-Seat-Jet-222346-1.html . 10 September 2015.
    15. Sport Aviation. April 2014. 14.
    16. News: Thurber. Matt. AirVenture Report: 2014. 4 September 2014. AINonline. 1 September 2014 . https://archive.today/20210829133400/https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/2014-09-01/airventure-report-2014. 29 August 2021. live.
    17. Web site: Sonex To Offer Two-Place Jet Kit. 12 July 2019. O'Connor. Kate. AVweb. 11 July 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190712133542/https://www.avweb.com/recent-updates/experimentals/sonex-to-offer-2-place-jet-kit/. 12 July 2019.
    18. Web site: Two-Seat SubSonex Set to Debut at AirVenture 202. 23 January 2020. Cook. Marc . AVweb. 15 January 2020.
    19. Web site: EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2020 canceled due to coronavirus pandemic. Prinsen. Jake. Northwestern Media. en. 2020-05-01.
    20. Web site: SubSonex-Based Unmanned Twin-Jet Revealed As Low-Cost Military UAV. 15 April 2022. Phelps. Mark. AVweb. 26 April 2022. https://archive.today/20220427123326/https://www.avweb.com/aviation-news/subsonex-based-unmanned-twin-jet-revealed-as-low-cost-military-uav/. 27 April 2022. live.

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