Sonex First Flight: Billy Brock
08-28-06

Congratulations to Billy Brock of Fort Worth, Texas, who's VW Powered, Dual Stick, Standard Gear Sonex (S/N 440) flew for the first time on August 26. Sonex pilot Gene Fulmer (S/N 383) made Billy's test flight and reports: "It flies just as sweet as mine!" Gold Wings are on the way, Billy!

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Canadian Sonex BBQ a Success Despite Weather
08-21-06

The 6th Annual Ontario Region Sonex BBQ was held on Saturday, August 19 at Brampton, Ontario Airport (CNC3). Sonex builder and event organizer Brian Heinmiller considered the event a success, despite some bad weather, with over 30 people in attendance. One builder even drove 250 miles from Franklin, PA to attend! The event was hosted by the Ontario Chapter of the Recreational Aircraft Association. Many pictures, ideas and some project parts were passed-around and a good time was had by all.

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Sonex First Flight: Roger Nienberg
08-21-06

Congratulations to Roger Nienberg of Ottawa, Ohio, who flew his Jabiru 3300 powered Standard Gear Sonex (S/N 804) for the first time on August 18. "I have around 50 hours total time, 46 in a C-172 and 4 in a Champ," reports Roger. "The plane was very manageable in all respects during the flight, even for a low time pilot. The takeoff was smooth and the landing was a nice 3-pointer." Gold Wings are on the way, Roger!

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New Products from Sonex!
08-16-06

Sonex Aircraft, LLC is pleased to announce three new products available to builders and enthusiasts:

Sonex First Flight: Thierry Muller
08-15-06

Thierry Muller of Willer, France, reported having flown his Jabiru 2200 powered Tri-Gear Sonex (S/N 635) for the first time on August 1. Congratulations Theirry! Gold Wings are on the way!

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Waiex First Flight: William Hebestreit
08-08-06

The young Waiex fleet keeps on growing! William Hebestreit of Wofford Heights, California now has the fourth customer-built Waiex to take to the air. William flew his Standard Gear, AeroVee powered Waiex (S/N W0033) for the first time yesterday. Congratulations to William. His Gold Wings are on the way!

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Sonex First Flight: Alan Purdy
08-08-06

Congratulations to Alan Purdy of San Marcos, California, who flew his Standard Gear, Jabiru 3300 powered Sonex (S/N 600) for the first time yesterday! Sonex Gold Wings are on the way to Alan!

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EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2006 a Huge Success
08-01-06

Sonex Aircraft, LLC logged another hugely successful AirVenture Oshkosh air show last week. The event was kicked-off by the 3rd Annual Sonex Aircraft Homecoming Fly-In and Open House on Sunday, July 23. Several customer-built Sonex aircraft flew-in for the event and a large crowd of current and prospective builders turned-up to tour the Sonex facilities, meet the staff, and check-out the aircraft.

Monday, July 24 marked the start of EAA AirVenture Oshkosh '06, and the Sonex Aircraft, LLC and AeroConversions booth in the North Display Area enjoyed extremely brisk traffic consisting of seriously interested prospective builders every day of the show. For the second year in a row, Sonex Aircraft, LLC offered its "Builders' Hangout" hospitality tent, which allowed our builders take some relief from the blistering high temperatures to enjoy some shade, a cool drink of water, and commune with fellow Sonex builders and pilots.

Sonex also had a significant presence on AirVenture's "Main Street" leading to AeroShell Square, with a wing construction display in the EAA Member Village tent. Several Sonex builders volunteered to construct a Sonex wing and field questions during the week as part of the display.

All four Sonex forums were extremely well attended and attracted additional traffic into the Sonex and AeroConversions display booth. In addition, a forum given by Peter Denny of Washburn High School kicked-off the Sonex Education Initiative program. Many interested educators and EAA chapter leaders stopped by the booth to inquire about the program. Sonex also held meetings with several potential education partner organizations during the show.

Open House attendees peruse the line of customer-built aircraft (top) while Sonex General Mgr. Jeremy Monnett leads a tour of the facilities (above).

A big congratulations goes out to Sonex employee and builder Kerry Fores for winning a Bronze Lindy Award for his plans-built Sonex (S/N 9), "Metal Illness". The Lindy Award is a huge honor rewarding superior workmanship among a very competitive field of beautiful aircraft attending Oshkosh.

Sonex hosted another customer appreciation party on Friday night. The steel drum band "Pandora's Groove" provided entertainment and many Sonex builders and guests from the aviation and local business communities were in attendance.

Sonex Aircraft, LCC would like to extend a huge "Thank You" to all the Sonex pilots who brought their aircraft to the Sonex Homecoming Fly-In and/or AirVenture for helping to make this year's events such a big success!

Sonex Aircraft Homecoming Almost Here!
07-20-06

Who says you can't go home again? Several Sonex aircraft will return to their mama's roost this Sunday at the 3rd Annual Sonex Homecoming Fly-In and Open House! The event begins at 9:00am and ends at 3:00pm when customers' Sonex aircraft will mass-taxi with Sonex factory prototypes, across Wittman Regional Airport, to their exhibit spaces in the North Display Area for EAA AirVenture 2006.

This is a great opportunity to talk with Sonex builders, see many aircraft, and tour the Sonex Aircraft, LLC facility. For directions to our facility, See our Map to get here.

For Fly-In taxi and parking instructions, download our Sonex Aircraft Fly-In Traffic Instructions (1.4mb PDF File)

Also be sure to download and study the EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2006 NOTAM

Sonex Announces Education Initiative
07-20-06

EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2006 will mark the official launch of the Sonex Education Initiative. The Education Initiative represents an investment into the future of aviation in all its forms, both recreational and professional. Through the Sonex Education Initiative, Sonex Aircraft, LLC is offering discount incentives for educational institutions and community organizations to educate youth about aviation via the construction of a Sonex Aircraft or AeroConversions AeroVee Engine.

In addition, Sonex Aircraft, LLC has created a Sonex Education Initiative web site to offer many value-added features to participant schools and organizations. In partnership with Expercraft, the Sonex Education Initiative web site will offer free Expercraft Simple Log project logging to participants. The Education Initiative web site will also offer free on-line discussion groups for both teachers and students, a database of curriculum resources, advice on starting, teaching and administrating aviation education via aircraft construction, as well as links to educational, funding and technical support resources.

To kick-off the Sonex Education Initiative, a forum will be held at AirVenture. "Building Aircraft in Schools and Youth Groups" will be a forum held on Tuesday, July 25 from 1:00pm to 2:15pm in AirVenture Forum building #01: Utah Valley State College Pavilion. The forum will be presented by Washburn High School teacher and Sonex Education Initiative Chairman, Peter Denny.

To find out more, see the official Sonex Education Initiative web site: education.sonexaircraft.com

Sonex First Flight: Mike Granger
07-20-06

Congratulations Mike Granger of Frederick, Maryland! Mike flew his Standard Gear, Jabiru 3300 Powered Sonex (S/N 611) for the first time on June 30. This marks the 125th Sonex Aircraft completed and flying! Gold wings are on the way to Mike!

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Sonex in the News
07-04-06

Sonex is featured prominently in the July issues of both EAA Sport Pilot, and EAA Sport Aviation magazines.

Sonex employee Kerry Fores and his Metal Illness (Sonex S/N 0009) is featured as the cover story of EAA Sport Pilot magazine, chronicling his flight to Sun 'n Fun 2006 in "Simple Flying; a Cross Country Learning Experience" (page 34), an abridged version of Kerry's article "Sun and Fun in a Sonex" (1.1mb PDF file). His panel was also used to illustrate a story about electronic engine information systems such as the Grand Rapids EIS (page 44).

Sonex pilot Marty Smiltneek (Sonex S/N 0173) was also featured in the July issue of EAA Sport Aviation magazine, in "Sonex's Stars Stand for Happy Kids" (page 93). Ron Dorner, a member of Marty's EAA chapter 320, wrote the article detailing Marty's tradition of allowing kids who sit in his aircraft to place a colored star on his Sonex tail, which is now festooned with stars. The article also describes Marty's Jabiru 3300 powered Sonex and the design's outstanding performance.

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Sonex First Flight: Walter Vogel
07-04-06

Congratulations to Walter Vogel of St. Mary's, Ohio, who flew his AeroVee powered, standard gear Sonex (S/N 500) for the first time on June 30! Gold wings are on the way to Walt!

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