Sonex Aircraft AirVenture Schedule Posted
06-28-11

A preliminary schedule of Sonex Aircraft, LLC forums and events for EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2011 has been posted to our Events Calendar Page. Keep checking this calendar in the coming weeks for updates to the schedule as the show gets closer.

Factory Tours will once again be available, as well as customer order pickups during limited hours (all orders must be placed in advance of the show).

For more information about AirVenture, visit: www.airventure.org

Also note that a Sonex Summer Shutdown has been posted to our Events Calendar for July 1 through 7. We'll be using this time to continue progress on Onex kit packaging, plans, and order acknowledgements along with preparations for the AirVenture Fly-In and regular order processing. We will be re-opening for regular business on Friday, July 8. We wish you all a safe and enjoyable 4th of July Holiday!

Sonex First Flight: Dale Gray
06-27-11

Congratulations to Dale Gray of Daytona Beach, Florida whose Jabiru 3300 powered, standard gear Sonex (S/N 0506) flew for the first time on May 27th! "The airplane is named "Connie B" after my wife," writes Dale. Gold Wings are on the way!

View the Latest Sonex Aircraft Completions

AeroVee Turbo Webinar Archive Online
06-23-11

The AeroVee Turbo Webinar Hosted by EAA on Tuesday evening, June 21st, has now been placed online as a permanent video archive. If you missed the live presentation, you can watch the archive online anytime.

Learn More about the AeroVee Turbo!

Sonex First Flight: Koen Plantinga
06-23-11

Congratulations to Koen Plantinga of Ruimsig, Gauteng South Africa whose Jabiru 3300 powered, standard gear Sonex (S/N 0683) flew for the first time on June 4th! Gold Wings are on the way!

View the Latest Sonex Aircraft Completions

AeroVee Turbo Webinar Tomorrow Night!
06-20-11

Sonex Aircraft will present a Webinar update of the AeroVee Turbo research and development project tomorrow evening, June 21st at 7pm Central Time, as part of the EAA Webinar series. This update will include a discussion of flight and engine performance and a bit more on our approach to an exciting opportunity to get even more power out of a stock AeroVee Engine Installation.

Webinar (web-based seminar) presentations use slides and live audio from the presenter, and audience members can ask questions or be polled for their opinion in the webinar's interactive format. Space is limited, so Sign-Up Now!

Onex Kit and Sub-Kit Orders Now Accepted!
06-17-11

The delivery schedule for Onex kit production has been finalized, and all Onex Kit Reservation Deposit holders have finalized their orders and received order confirmations and estimated delivery dates, with deliveries beginning during the second week of July.

Sonex Aircraft is pleased to announce that Onex Complete Airframe Kit and Sub-Kit orders are now being accepted for non-deposit holders. The delivery dates for these new orders will begin in December. Kit delivery priority will continue to be given on a first come, first served basis, and normal Sonex Aircraft kit ordering procedures will be followed for these orders

There is a new official Onex home page located on the SonexAircraft.com web site, while the Onex’s development archive will continue to be maintained on the Hornets’ Nest R&D web site as a permanent record, and new progress updates will continue to be posted to that site along with mailings to Onex email list subscribers.

All Onex Complete Airframe Kit and Sub-Kit pricing can now be found on the SonexAircraft.com pricing web page, and orders may be placed via the Sonex Web Store.

More information can be found in a progress update letter sent to the Onex mailing list and Sonex Aircraft online discussion groups today by Sonex CEO and General Manager Jeremy Monnett.

Subscribe to the Onex Mailing List!
See the Onex Development Archive on the Hornets' Nest R&D web site!

Sonex Flying Stories:
Xenos Soaring and Waiex Flying With the Mikes
06-16-11

More new builders' videos were sent to us in the last couple weeks for posting to our Sonex Flying Stories page!

Michael Jackson first captured our attention by constructing his Xenos Motorglider SN#42 within the confines his New Jersey townhouse. Michael has since completed and flown his Xenos, and has provided two new videos for your enjoyment.

Mike January has been flying his AeroVee powered Tri-Gear Waiex #23 in his home state of Florida since 2007. Mike sent us four cockpit perspective flight videos, including one showing the last launch of Space Shuttle Discovery!

See these videos and more on the Sonex Flying Stories page!

Waiex First Flight: Will Dovel
06-13-11

Congratulations to Will Dovel of Southport, North Carolina whose Jabiru 3300 powered, standard gear Waiex (S/N W0090) flew for the first time on June 5th! "Great day today - Waiex N90YX lifted off Runway 23, KSUT, for the first time," writes Will. "Two separate takeoff's and landings for a total of 1.3 hours. She performed absolutely fantastic with no abnormal characteristics and all engine parameters within Jabiru limitations." Gold Wings are on the way to Will!

View the Latest Sonex Aircraft Completions

Northern California Builders Host 8th
Annual Fly-In at Rio Linda
06-01-11

Sonex builders Eric Scheppers, Jeffry Larson, and Coy Lyles hosted the Northern California Sonex Fly-In at Rio Linda Airport in Rio Linda California on May 14th, this year marking the 8th annual event! Over 80 people were in attendance and 7 Sonex Aircraft flew in for the event, despite some less-than ideal weather. The event featured an outstanding bar-b-que lunch, Sonex rides, flour bombing and spot landing competitions.

"One thing I want to say is that we all get into this hobby because it's
something we can own, do what we want, when we want....mine, mine, mine," writes Jeffry Larson. "What we quickly find out is the friendships, people, partners and aquaintences that we aquire far exceeds the value of owning your own airplane. Sharing stories, experiences and advice with all that are interested makes this hobby far more enriching than writing that first check."

Our thanks again go-out to Eric, Jeffry, Coy, and everyone else who worked to make this grass-roots builder event a success every year! You can find more Sonex Builders' Events, or post your own event, at the Sonex Builders' Events Calendar!

2011 Midwest Sonex Fly-In a Success!
05-27-11

Kansas City area Sonex Builders held another successful Midwest Sonex Fly-In on May 21st! Five local Sonex Aircraft and 22 attendees participated in this grass roots builder event. This year's event included a group fly-out from Johnson County Execulive Airport (KOJC) in Olathe, Kansas to Miami County Airport (K81) in Paola for a BBQ lunch, and some attendees had the opportunitiy to experience their first flight in a Sonex Aircraft. Two-time Sonex builder Gus Schlegel gave a presentation about his Jabiru 3300 installation (including engine-turned cooling baffles!), and builder Charlie Radford gave a presentation about his AeroVee installation. Door prizes from Sonex and Wicks Aircraft Supply were awarded to attendees, including a grand prize from Wicks of a Flightcom 4DX headset, awarded to attendee Ron Rodgers.

Sonex Aircraft, LLC would like to thank Bob Mika, Ted Thomas, Scott Hobson, Charlie Radford, and Marc Sanders for organizing another outstanding builder event! For more pictures of the event, go to Bob Mika's Flickr album. You can find more Sonex Builders' Events, or post your own event, at the Sonex Builders' Events Calendar!

Door prizes from Sonex and Wicks. Wicks Aircraft Supply donated a Flightcom FDX Classic Style headset for the event!	The flight line, with aircraft from (R to L) Charlie Radford, Marc Sanders, Ted Thomas, Gus Schlegel, and Bob Mika.
Gus Schlegel shows-off his beautifully-constructed Sonex and talks about his Jabiru installation.	Bob Mika gives one of his patented Sonex "smile rides" to attendee Pat Kaldahl.

Sonex Flying Stories: New Waiex Videos From Kip and Xenos Soaring with Ted!
05-16-11

Some new builders' videos were sent to us in the last couple weeks for posting to our Sonex Flying Stories page:

Waiex builder Kip Laurie sent-along four neat videos showing his Jabiru 3300 powered Waiex in-flight, even showing aerobatics including spins. If Kip's tail-view camera doesn't answer the common question as-to whether there is any difference in handling between a Waiex and a Sonex, nothing will!

Xenos builder Ted Staton sent us another annual "Cleco de Mayo" email on May 5, 2011 with some in-flight footage of soaring in his AeroVee powered Xenos. Notice the altimeter and variometer in the climbs, not to mention the easy AeroVee in-flight starting!

See these videos and more on the Sonex Flying Stories page!

NC Builders Host Sonex Spring Fling
05-13-11

Sonex Aircraft builders in North Carolina held their 2nd Annual Spring Fling fly-in event last Sunday, May 7th. "We couldn't have asked for nicer weather," writes event organizer Michael Crowder. "...by lunchtime, eleven Sonex and Waiex aircraft had converged on Asheboro Municipal Airport (KHBI). We had airplanes from NC, SC, VA, GA, and MS.....yep Mississippi. We also had Sonex builders and potential builders arrive in a variety of other aircraft as well. Doug Raby was even here from Canada with Robert Eley from Tennessee. In comparison, we had four Sonex aircraft last year! The final headcount came in at 45. The ramp stayed busy the whole time with builders and pilots talking about Sonex aircraft."

"Peter [Van Schalkwyk], Shayne [Van Schalkwyk], Wayne [Andrews] and myself would like to thank all the pilots who flew in," writes Michael. "It wouldn't have been as great an event without you there! THANK YOU! We'd also like to thank all the builders and potential builders for coming out. Your enthusiasm showed. Also a big thank you to the folks in the FBO at Asheboro and the North Carolina Aviation Museum."

Sonex Aircraft would like to thank all involved in hosting another outstanding grass-roots Sonex builder event! Find more builders' events, or submit your own event, at our Builders' Events Calendar web page!

Sonex First Flight: Louis Squillante
05-10-11

Congratulations to Louis Squillante of Adamsville, Tennessee whose Jabiru 3300 powered, standard gear Sonex (S/N 1208) flew for the first time on April 28th! "Plane performed as expected, I give it an A+," writes Louis. Gold Wings are on the way!

View the Latest Sonex Aircraft Completions

Sonex Holds Big Spring Workshop!
05-05-11

Sonex employee Kerry Fores makes a high-speed pass in his personal Sonex serial number 9: "Metal Illness."

Sonex Aircraft hosted a very large group of prospective Sonex, Waiex, Xenos, and Onex builders at the 48th Sonex Aircraft Builder's Workshop on April 30-May 1! Attendees from across the country (and accross the globe) traveled to Oshkosh to learn more about building, owning and flying Sonex Aircraft. The group constructed sample Sonex metalworking projects, received detailed informational sessions about all Sonex Aircraft designs, engine options, AeroConversions products, and all other aspects of building, owning and operating Sonex Aircraft.

There were many in attendance interested in the new Onex single-place, folding-wing, aerobatic sport pilot aircraft, and attendees were able to be among the first customers to try-on the latest Onex seat and canopy mods. We're pleased to report that everyone who tried the aircraft on during the Workshop weekend were able to fit comfortably in the Onex.

Saturday's lunch break included a brief presentation from Bob Mackey of Falcon Insurance, plan administrator for the EAA Aircraft Insurance Plan about homebuilt aircraft insurance considerations. On Saturday evening, John and Jeremy Monnett gave attendees a briefing about Hornets' Nest R&D projects, with a special emphasis on all the latest Onex information.

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 significant kit discount incentives are offered for attendees. Our next Sonex Workshop will be held October 1-2, 2011. Sign-up Today!

Sonex CEO Jeremy Monnett welcomes attendees, discusses the weekend's schedule, and introduces the Sonex staff.	Sonex pilots got a chance to perform fly-by's with factory prototypes, despite some windy, bumpy weather. Onex shown here.
Jeremy taxiis-back after making fly-by's in the Xenos Motorglider.	John Monnett shows-off the Sonex Sport Acro prototype, smoke-on!
Kerry talks with Workshop attendees after his Sunday fly-by's.	Workshop attendees get the chance to look-over factory prototypes.
John demonstrates metalworking technique for the Workshop's hands-on project.	Attendees get started on their projects, practicing every major skill required to build the aircraft.
Jeremy gives a demonstration of blind riveting techniques and discusses rivet nomenclature.	John uses the Onex #2 prototype fuselage to discuss Sonex Aircraft building tips & techniques.

Find Out More About Sonex Aircraft Builder's Workshops!

Sonex First Flight: Loren Otto
05-04-11

Congratulations to Loren Otto of Del Norte, Colorado whose Jabiru 2200 powered Sonex (S/N 919) flew for the first time on May 3rd! "With near calm winds, my Sonex was airborne in about 900 ft of my 2650 ft dirt runway at 35 degrees with a density altitude of 7500 ft," writes Loren. "More fun flying to follow!" Gold Wings are on the way to Loren!

View the Latest Sonex Aircraft Completions

Sonex Flying Stories: 500 Hours and the Turks
05-03-11

Sonex builder Aaron Knight (Sonex S/N 1024) recently celebrated 500 hours of flight time on his Jabiru 3300 powered Sonex with another epic cross-country vacation trip with one of his sons, and another great video to share with the Sonex community. Aaron's most recent trip took him from his home in the Boston area to the Turks and Caicos Islands with his son Elisha, covering over 3,000 miles in 9 days, and having a lot of fun along the way! The video "Aaron & Elisha's Sonex trip to the Bahamas Out-Islands + Turks & Caicos" can be seen on YouTube. Links to this great flying video and others made by Aaron and his sons, Isaiah and Elisha, can be found on our Sonex Flying Stories page.

See More Sonex Flying Stories!