Sonex First Flight in Zimbabwe: Joe Hulland
06-25-08

Congratulations to Joe Hulland and build partner John Kelly of Vainona, Harare Zimbabwe, whose Jabiru 3300 powered, Standard Gear Sonex (S/N 1082) flew for the first time on May 8. This is the third Sonex Aircraft that Hulland and Kelly have completed and flown! Gold Wings are on the way to Joe!

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Spring Cleaning Sale: Prices Reduced on
Discontinued Sonex Apparel
06-20-08

Announcing reduced prices on the following discontinued Sonex Apparel:

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Sonex Homecoming Fly-In a Great Day!
06-17-08

Despite the rain and flooding earlier in the week throughout Wisconsin and the Midwest, plus high winds and potential thunderstorms en route on Saturday, Sonex Aircraft, LLC still enjoyed a relatively good turn-out for the 5th Annual Sonex Homecoming Fly-In.

Special Thanks to Charles Radford (Sonex S/N 168), Roger Nienberg (Sonex S/N 804), and Chris Williams (Sonex S/N 732) for flying-in their Sonex Aircraft from out-of-state. Throw-back honors go along with our thanks to Fred Keip for flying-in his Sonerai IIL. Thanks also to Wayne Daniels (Sonex S/N 444) and Kerry Fores (Sonex S/N 9) for bringing their local Sonex Aircraft to the event.

Builders, potential builders and locals all enjoyed the opportunity to network with one another, tour the Sonex Aircraft, LLC facilities, see Sonex Aircraft prototypes and chat with Sonex staff.

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Sonex Homecoming Fly-In This Saturday!
Fly-In Your Sonex Aircraft and Get Free Fuel!
06-11-08

The Sonex Homecoming Fly-In is to be held this Saturday, June 14!

Fly your Sonex, Waiex or Xenos in to the 5th annual Sonex Aircraft Homecoming Fly-In and get a free top-off of 100LL avgas for your trip home, courtesy of Sonex Aircraft, LLC!

The Sonex Homecoming Fly-In is a great opportunity for Sonex pilots, builders and prospective builders to gather, see customer-built aircraft, tour the Sonex Aircraft, LLC facility and talk with Sonex staff. Hours: 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. Lunch and refreshments will be available. See our Map to get here.

For Fly-In taxi and parking instructions, download our Sonex Aircraft Fly-In Traffic Instructions (416kb PDF File)*

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Builder Events: Sonex Border Crossing!
06-11-08

Sonex Aircraft Builders Kai Lyche (Sonex S/N 525 pictured above), Kristen Thorrud (Sonex S/N 210) from Drammen, Norway, flew their Sonex Aircraft across the border into Sweden for the Scandinavian EAA convention at Barkaby airfield in Stockholm. The two Sonex's made the trip with Sonex builder Sven Liang Jensen (S/N 772) and several other members of their flying club (6 aircraft total).

"The 440nm round trip was completely uneventful," writes Kai, "Sonex #0525 LN-YKE and the Jabiru 2200A performing with customary and boring regularity; not one little hickup. Since I had to drag along a CH601, the average speed was nothing to write home about (a modest 105 kts), however the fuel consumption was miserly: slightly below 3 gals/hr."

If you're planning similar excursions or events with Sonex Aircraft builders, be sure to submit your event to our Builders' Events Calendar!

Sonex First Flight: Aaron Knight
06-09-08

Congratulations to Aaron Knight of Norwell, Massachusetts, whose Jabiru 3300 powered, Standard Gear Sonex (S/N 1024) flew for the first time on June 6. "The plane jumped off the runway and flew fantastic, with effortless handling and smooth landing. What a relief!" writes Aaron. "A second test flight yielded fantastic steep turns, climbs, and something else I didn't plan on with my test flight nervousness -- a Lot of Fun! The construction experience was extremely satisfying and went by in a blazingly fast 16 months, thanks to the kit, the plans and amazingly simple-to-assemble design. I'm looking forward to flying off the 40 hours and getting underway with summer adventures with the kids in our copper color-changing Sonex!" Gold Wings are on the way to Aaron!

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AirVenture Oshkosh Forum Schedule Released
06-06-08

The Forum Schedule for EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2008 has finally been released. Sonex Aircraft, LLC and AeroConversions products will be conducting five Forums throughout the week (see table below). See full Forum Descriptions on our Sonex Events Page.

The Sonex Aircraft Open House Fly-In will be held the day before AirVenture begins again this year, on Sunday, July 27.

Additionally, John Monnett will be speaking about the E-Flight Initiative as part of a panel discussion regarding Aviation Innovations to be held at Theater in the Woods on Thursday, July 31 from 7:45 to 8:45 pm.

Planning a Sonex Builder get-together at your campsite, the beer tent, or at a restaurant or hotel during AirVenture? Don't forget to submit the gathering to our Sonex Builders' Events Calendar!

Sonex First Flight: Steve Sample
06-03-08

Congratulations to Steve Sample of Loveland, Colorado, whose Jabiru 3300 powered, Standard Gear Sonex (S/N 708) flew for the first time on May 30 from Fort Collins/Loveland airport, at over 5,000 ft field elevation! "The Sonex lived up to all my expectations," reports Steve. "The 3300 Jabiru  performance was excellent and due to your Cylinder Head Baffle design all temperatures stayed well within recommended ranges. Landing was smooth in spite of my first flight nerves. Thanks to my wife Sharon, Sonex's technical support, friends Roger Riewerts, Carl Sheldon, Jack Daniels, Gail,  Dennis Burton [whose Sonex is pictured next to Steve's above, left] and EAA Chapter 515 Hugh Beckham and David Nabor for their help in completing the project." Gold Wings are on the way to Steve!

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Waiex First Flight: Shayne McDaniel
05-27-08

Congratulations to Shayne McDaniel of Pineville, Missouri, whose AeroVee powered, Tri-Gear Waiex (S/N W0065) flew for the first time on May 4. Gold Wings are on the way to Shayne!

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Sonex Homecoming Fly-In Coming Soon; Free Fill-Up Offer Once Again Extended
05-23-08

Fly your Sonex, Waiex or Xenos in to the 5th annual Sonex Aircraft Homecoming Fly-In on Saturday, June 14 and get a free top-off of 100LL avgas for your trip home, courtesy of Sonex Aircraft, LLC!

The Sonex Homecoming Fly-In is a great opportunity for Sonex pilots, builders and prospective builders to gather, see customer-built aircraft, tour the Sonex Aircraft, LLC facility and talk with Sonex staff. Hours: 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. Lunch and refreshments will be available. See our Map to get here.

Note: this is a change in scheduled date as of 1/15/08, as this event was originally scheduled to take place one week earlier.

For Fly-In taxi and parking instructions, download our Sonex Aircraft Fly-In Traffic Instructions (416kb PDF File)*

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5th Northern California Sonex Fly-In Best Yet!
05-23-08

Last weekend saw yet another gathering of enthusiastic Sonex Aircraft pilots, builders and prospectives at the 5th Annual Northern California Sonex Fly-In in Rio Linda, CA. Nine Sonex Aircraft flew-in to the event and much "Sonex Kool-Aid" was passed-around as the group listened to each fly-in pilot describe their experiences building and flying Sonex Aircraft, one aircraft at a time along the flight line.

Lunch was served at the event and several Sonex rides were given by the pilots in attendance. A huge "Thank You" must be extended on behalf of Sonex Aircraft, LLC, and Northern California Sonex Fly-In attendees to event organizer Eric Scheppers, builder and pilot of "Red Devil" Sonex SN# 250!

Don't forget to submit your Sonex Builder Gathering to the Sonex Builders' Events Calendar!

EAA Land-A-Member Sweepstakes Sonex Flies!
05-16-08

Congratulations to Jim Ross of Citra, Florida, whose AeroVee powered, Tri-Gear Sonex (S/N 666) flew for the first time on May 15. "Notice the nose-art," writes Jim, "a 105 lb coonhound named Cessna (Sonex co-pilot)."

Jim won his Sonex kit in the 2003 EAA Land-A-Member Sweepstakes program. Sonex suspects that Jim is perhaps the first aircraft sweepstakes winner in history to afford keeping and flying his prize, all thanks to the Sonex Reality Check philosophy offering The Best Performance Per Dollar. Gold Wings are on the way to Jim!

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Sonex Holds 39th Builder Workshop!
05-08-08

Sonex Aircraft, LLC hosted its 39th Sonex Aircraft Builders' Workshop seminar to an enthusiastic crowd of current and potential homebuilders during the weekend of May 3-4. Another large group of builders were in attendance and, included in the group, were delegations from as far abroad as Brazil and Poland! The weather afforded several opportunities for Sonex Aircraft fly-by's, the group constructed sample Sonex metalworking projects, received detailed informational sessions about Sonex, Waiex and Xenos Aircraft, engine options, AeroConversions products, and all other aspects of building, owning and operating Sonex Aircraft. Guest speakers included Charlie Becker, of EAA headquarters staff, and Bob Mackey, administrator of the EAA Aircraft Insurance Plan.

The Sonex Aircraft Workshop continues to be an extremely valuable experience for our builders, saving them time, money and answering many frequently asked questions in the building process. Sonex Builder Workshops are held several times per year at the Sonex Aircraft, LLC facilities in Oshkosh, WI, and kit discount incentives are offered for attendees. Our next Sonex Workshop will be held October 4-5, 2008. Sign-up Today!

Workshop attendees introduce themselves and describe their previous building experiences during the Workshop's opening session. Many Sonex Workshop attendees are first-time builders.	John Monnett treats attendees to some fly-by's with the AeroVee powered Sonex Sport Acro despite light Saturday morning rain.
Sonex employee Kerry Fores answers questions about his Jabiru 3300 powered "Metal Illness" before climbing-in for fly-by's.	Workshop attendees pore over every detail of Sonex factory prototype and customer-built aircraft during the workshop.
Attendees watch as Kerry fires-up to go flying.	Airport grass is reflected in the highly-polished skin of "Metal Illness" during high-speed fly-by's.
A great view of the sleek and attractive Waiex Y-Tail during a high-speed fly-by.	The Waiex in a slow-flight demonstration considered by many attendees to be more impressive the all of the weekend's high-speed passes.
Local builder and part-time Sonex employee Wayne Daniels taxis-in after fly-by's with his Sonex "Purple Haze."	Wayne's Sonex is mobbed by workshop attendees eager for a closer look.
Threatened by all the attention being given to "Purple Haze," "Metal Illness" snorts air show smoke in an impressive display of power and dominance.	Jeremy Monnett answers some questions after having great fun flying the Sport Trainer on Saturday evening.
Attendees begin their Sonex metalworking projects to learn the skills necessary to build their own fire-breathing hot rods for the sky.	A team of Sonex Aircraft workshop attendees put the last few rivets into their Sonex workshop project.
Falcon Insurance VP Bob Mackey speaks to attendees about insuring their Sonex Aircraft.
Jeremy instructs Sonex's hand-riveting technique for main spar assembly 5/32" solid rivets.	Attendees learn the ins-and-outs of Sonex technical documentation using sample plans for their workshop metalworking project.
John describes turtle deck installation during his building tips and project organization session.	John details Sonex-specific wing and tail construction techniques for workshop attendees.

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