EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2022 broke all kinds of records for EAA, making it the biggest event ever, and it was the biggest Oshkosh ever for Sonex in several ways! Keep scrolling, this is probably the biggest Oshkosh web post ever, as-well!
Sonex Open House
The events kicked-off with our traditional Sonex Open House and Homecoming Fly-In in Sunday July 24th, a day before the start of AirVenture. While a bad storm on Saturday night hampered fly-in attendance on Sunday, a large crowd still attended the open house along with one each customer SubSonex, Onex and Sonex. The Sunday event included the official public unveiling of the SubSonex JSX-2T two-place jet prototype, and wrapped-up with the traditional taxi of factory and customer aircraft to AirVenture grounds.
The events kicked-off with our traditional Sonex Open House and Homecoming Fly-In in Sunday July 24th, a day before the start of AirVenture. While a bad storm on Saturday night hampered fly-in attendance on Sunday, a large crowd still attended the open house along with one each customer SubSonex, Onex and Sonex. The Sunday event included the official public unveiling of the SubSonex JSX-2T two-place jet prototype, and wrapped-up with the traditional taxi of factory and customer aircraft to AirVenture grounds.
One Week Wonder
The show started and ended in a big way for Sonex with the official kickoff of the 2022 One Week Wonder by EAA’s Jack Pelton. Throughout the week, over 80 build volunteers and ambassadors plus thousands of AirVenture attendees with their individual signed rivet contributions helped to ensure a successful completion of the Waiex-B for this year’s One Week Wonder. The aircraft taxied in-front of the AirVenture crowd at the end of Sunday’s air show, meeting the week’s incredibly ambitous goals. See the full One Week Wonder photo gallery below along with each day’s video coverage by the Experimental Aircraft Channel on YouTube. The One Week Wonder served as an inspiration to AirVenture attendees, volunteers and Sonex staff alike, showing what a dedicated group of like-minded aviation enthusiasts can achieve together and showing that building a homebuilt aircraft is within anybody’s reach!
Two-Seat SubSonex JSX-2T
After Sunday’s unveiling, the SubSonex JSX-2T prototype was moved to the Sonex exhibit booth at AirVenture for display next to the single-seat SubSonex JSX-2. The aircraft is still under construction, but the Sonex staff worked hard to get it ready for viewing at the show with wings and tail attached, canopy and nose cone installed, and a cockpit ready for folks to try-on for size. The prototype received a ton of customer and media attention during the show, and several Kit Reservation Deposits were taken! Reserve Yours Today!
After Sunday’s unveiling, the SubSonex JSX-2T prototype was moved to the Sonex exhibit booth at AirVenture for display next to the single-seat SubSonex JSX-2. The aircraft is still under construction, but the Sonex staff worked hard to get it ready for viewing at the show with wings and tail attached, canopy and nose cone installed, and a cockpit ready for folks to try-on for size. The prototype received a ton of customer and media attention during the show, and several Kit Reservation Deposits were taken! Reserve Yours Today!
Show Orders and Lead-Times
The show was also a giant year for Sonex kit orders, exceeding all expectations as excitement and demand for our products continue to grow! Lead-Times are still very good compared to the rest of the homebuilt industry, however, so if you didn’t get a chance to order at the show, place your order now! Complete Airframe Kits and Sub-Kits currently have an approximate 16 week lead-time and Quick Build Kits are currently booking-out approximately 9 months. Cost pressures keep increasing, however, so be prepared for price increases to come soon. See Our Kit Options and Order Today!
The single-seat SubSonex JSX-2 is flanked by the new JSX-2T two-place jet, the Onex and the Waiex-B in the Sonex exhibit booth at AirVenture 2022.
Annual group photo at the 2022 Sonex Open House and Homecoming Fly-In, the day before AirVenture begins. - Photo courtesy Phil Weston, Weston Imaging
Sonex Open House and Homecoming Fly-In, 2022 - photo courtesy Casey Cooper
Sonex Open House and Homecoming Fly-In, 2022 - photo courtesy Casey Cooper
Customer Sonex aircraft occupy the flightline across from the Sonex exhibit booth at AirVenture 2022 - photo courtesy Casey Cooper
The SubSonex JSX-2T was officially unveiled at the 2022 Sonex Open House and Homecoming Fly-In. - Photo courtesy Phil Weston, Weston Imaging
SubSonex JSX-2T two-place jet in the Sonex exhibit booth at AirVenture 2022
SubSonex JSX-2T two-place jet in the Sonex exhibit booth at AirVenture 2022
SubSonex JSX-2T two-place jet in the Sonex exhibit booth at AirVenture 2022
The SubSonex JSX-2T two-place jet prototype grabbed a lot of attention at AirVenture 2022.
Sonex founder John Monnett celebrates his birthday every year at AirVenture. If you don't know the story behind this photo, check-out his biography on our web store!
Sonex production manager Cris Nash's Sonex-B debuted at AirVenture 2022 with Sonex's first factory-installed Rotax 912iS engine.
Sonex production manager Cris Nash (left) and Sonex purchasing and warehouse manager Steve Severson worked together on Cris's Sonex-B in their spare time for the past couple years.
Rotax 912iS Installation
In preparation for the One Week Wonder, Sonex conducted its first-ever factory installation of a Rotax powerplant with the Rotax 912iS. While Sonex has been making 912-series engine mounts and Sensenich props available for several years and customers have been making their own engine mounts and installations for even longer, the One Week Wonder was the perfect opportunity for Sonex to develop advanced support materials with our own factory installation.
In preparation for the One Week Wonder, Sonex conducted its first-ever factory installation of a Rotax powerplant with the Rotax 912iS. While Sonex has been making 912-series engine mounts and Sensenich props available for several years and customers have been making their own engine mounts and installations for even longer, the One Week Wonder was the perfect opportunity for Sonex to develop advanced support materials with our own factory installation.
As the factory aircraft and the One Week Wonder progress through flight testing together, Sonex will be refining and preparing custom parts for the installation along with a Firewall-Forward Installation Guide for release later this year. Accessories will include the custom Sonex/Toucan Exhaust System, an AeroConversions/Rotax Prop Hub Spool Extension, Radiator Mounts and Ducts with Custom Radiators, Sonex/Rotax Oil Tank Mounts and more! This new engine support will combine with our existing engine support offerings to further increase the popularity of Sonex designs!
What About the High Wing?
While no announcements were made during AirVenture about the upcoming Sonex High Wing design, and we didn’t even have a sign in the booth about it, "Tell me more about the High Wing" was probably the most frequently uttered phrase in the Sonex booth at AirVenture 2022! With SubSonex JSX-2T engineering nearing completion, and a lot of preliminary structural engineering completed on the High Wing this Spring, Sonex will be kicking development of the new aircraft into high-gear this Fall and it will be in the Sonex exhibit booth at AirVenture 2023!
While no announcements were made during AirVenture about the upcoming Sonex High Wing design, and we didn’t even have a sign in the booth about it, "Tell me more about the High Wing" was probably the most frequently uttered phrase in the Sonex booth at AirVenture 2022! With SubSonex JSX-2T engineering nearing completion, and a lot of preliminary structural engineering completed on the High Wing this Spring, Sonex will be kicking development of the new aircraft into high-gear this Fall and it will be in the Sonex exhibit booth at AirVenture 2023!
The High Wing will also give Sonex the opportunity to completely round-out its engine support package offerings with the first factory installation of a UL Power engine with the UL350iS! Like Rotax engines, Sonex has been making engine mounts available for UL Power engines for years, and with the High Wing project we will be developing specific support materials and instructions for the installations in our aircraft!
One Week Wonder Daily Video Coverage
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6
Day 7
One Week Wonder Photo Gallery
One Week Wonder volunteer group shot on Wednesday!
Sonex founders John and Betty Monnett pose with Sonex owner Mark Schaible and staff before the Monday morning kickoff of the 2022 One Week Wonder. - photo courtesy Phil Weston, Weston Imaging
The One Week Wonder kit was delivered the day before AirVenture started. Freight cost was killer -- from across the airport, LOL!
Waiex-B Complete Airframe Kit, kit accessories and Rotax 912iS engine all crated-up and ready for the start of the 2022 One Week Wonder. - photo courtesy Phil Weston, Weston Imaging
The clock has started, and volunteers tear-into the Waiex-B kit at the start of the One Week Wonder. - photo courtesy Phil Weston, Weston Imaging
The first day of the One Week Wonder sees the most activity as individual parts and assemblies are spread across the tent getting attention from multiple volunteer teams.
Day one and things are already getting riveted together as volunteers are still getting organized.
Lead volunteer Joe Dunavin helps another volunteer to interpret the Waiex-B plans.
Volunteers pull from the Waiex-B Hardware Kit donated for the One Week Wonder by WB Parts.
Frank Dressel (left) helps lead volunteer Mike Farley drill parts to the main wing spar.
Lead volunteers Jim Cunningham (left) and Jeff Shultz work the aft fuselage side assembly.
Lead volunteer Joe Dunavin works the aileron with OWW volunteer Daniel Nolan.
One Week Wonder lead volunteer Mike Farley helps to hold together an aileron for volunteers to drill.
One Week Wonder lead volunteers Laura Nerad and Jim Hicke work with the youth team responsible for construction of the Waiex-B tail group.
A pair of One Week Wonder volunteers cleo the match-hole tooled wing ribs and rear wing spar together.
One Week Wonder lead volunteer Bob Mika and Sonex staffer Tyler Nash work on the substructure of the RH wing assembly.
Volunteers match-drill the One Week Wonder wing spars together.
Sonex builder Glenn Brown talks to the public about homebuilding as a One Week Wonder Ambassador.
One Week Wonder lead volunteer Russ Pavlock works with his wive Justine and volunteer Joe Olson work on the wheel pants.
Volunteers drill and cleo the top wing skin on the One Week Wonder's LH wing.
AirVenture attendees line-up to learn how to rivet before they can put a rivet into the One Week Wonder.
An AirVenture attendee pops a rivet into a One Week Wonder practice board before getting in-line to install a rivet in the aircraft.
One Week Wonder Volunteer helps a young AirVenture attendee pop a rivet into the LH forward fuselage side wall of the One Week Wonder. - photo courtesy Phil Weston, Weston Imaging
A young AirVenture attendee signs his name to the rivet he just pulled in the wing of the One Week Wonder. - photo courtesy Phil Weston, Weston Imaging
A young AirVenture attendee signs his hame to his rivet in the One Week Wonder wing.
More rivets and signatures are accumulated on the One Week Wonder wings as EAA's video team documents the build with their giant boom camera.
A pair of young AirVenture attendees proudly pose for a picture with their signed One Week Wonder rivets.
Sonex Lead Mechanic Tony Jones inspects volunteers' work during the One Week Wonder. - photo courtesy Phil Weston, Weston Imaging
One Week Wonder volunteers solicit votes from the AirVenture crowd for the One Week Wonder Pick the Paint contest. - photo courtesy Phil Weston, Weston Imaging
The One Week Wonder LH wing sports fresh signatures from rivet installations on the lower aft panel.
Sonex production manager Cris Nash advises volunteer Jon Filipa on the next steps of the One Week Wonder build.
Sonex general manager Heather Zahner updates the One Week Wonder status board with checkmark stickers to show completed tasks. - Photo courtesy John Cooper
Sonex general manager Heather Zahner updaates the One Week Wonder status board with checkmark stickers to show completed tasks. - Photo courtesy John Cooper
Lead volunteer Michael Jackson bends tabs for the One Week Wonder's installation of the instrument panel to the glare shield.
Engine prep begins! Lugs are being installed for the AeroConversions/Rotax Prop Hub Extension.
Volunteers drill and cleco the Waiex-B LH stabilizer with the help of Sonex production manager Cris Nash.
An AirVenture attendee signs his name to his rivet in the One Week Wonder stabilizer.
Lead Volunteer Casey Cooper helps drill the titanium tail spring.
Never enough clecos, especially when everything is happening at the same time in a compressed schedule during the One Week Wonder!
The One Week Wonder required several late night work sessions, which took its toll on volunteers and staff alike!
The rivet signatures on One Week Wonder are truly inspiring -- an airplane built by literally everyone, including lots of kids! EAA at its best!
One Week Wonder lead volunteers Jeff Shultz (gray shirt, left) and Rick Basco (gray shirt, right) work with other volunteers to keep the fuselage moving forward.
Fuselage construction continues on the One Week Wonder.
One Week Wonder Waiex-B gets it's fuel tank preliminarily fitted.
Signatures on the Waiex-B stub rudder from the One Week Wonder tail team.
Michael Friend spots while another volunteer does final trimming of the One Week Wonder stabilizer skin to clearance the aft fuselage side skins.
Late night work as staff and volunteers rig the One Week Wonder's wings. Wing rigging is best performed without tons of volunteers jockeying for space to do their individual tasks on the fuselage.
Sonex staffer Tom Turner gets some ergonomic help from other staff members with improvised foot rests while he supports the RH wing tip during wing rigging.
One Week Wonder wings are installed for the first time!
The One Week Wonder was lots of work, but also tons of fun! - photo courtesy Phil Weston, Weston Imaging
More One Week Wonder signatures -- so cool!
Lead volunteer Rick Basco (left), Lawrence Ayers (center) and Sonex lead mechanic Tony Jones work the Waiex-B aft tail spar assembly.
Lead Volunteer Michael Jackson signs his rivet in the wing leading edge.
Wings are rigged, gear and brakes are installed, and the firewall-forward installation begins in-earnest on the One Week Wonder.
Rob Nutting packs wheel bearings on the One Week Wonder main gear.
One Week Wonder RH brake and wheel installation in-progress.
Cliff King (left) and Isaac Shultz work the installation of the One Week Wonder's LH fiberglass wing tip.
Casey Cooper taps the end of the axle for a wheel pant attach bolt.
More signatures in the foreground of the One Week Wonder wing as Sonex production manager Cris Nash surveys the project.
A One Week Wonder still-life.
Joe "spots" Sonex staffer Bill McNierney drilling a critical hole in the aft fuselage.
Getting lots of volunteer bodies around and inside a small aircraft project is challenging!
Cecil "Tron" Jones of EAA Founder's Innovation Prize championship organization FlyONSPEED drills holes in fuselage uprights for installation of his system's static lines.
Sonex production manager Cris Nash advises lead volunteer Laura Nerad on rear stabilizer spar installation.
2022 marks the 30th anniversary of the EAA Young Eagles program. Time flies when you're having fun!
Nino Tavio of Rotax dealer Kodiak Research Ltd. works the Sonex firewall-forward package for Rotax 912iS installation.
EAA's Charlie Becker applies another sponsor logo to the 2022 One Week Wonder.
Casey, Jon and Joe work trimming and fitting of the One Week Wonder's upper cowling.
The instrument panel provided by Midwest Panel Builders gets its first fit into the One Week Wonder cockpit!
The instrument panel gets drilled to the glare shield while all kinds of other finishing tasks take place at the same time!
The One Week Wonder will carry marks of its amazing history, including logos and volunteer names throughout its life. This will always be a very special aircraft!
The One Week Wonder Waiex-B is starting to betray its rakish lines!
Lead volunteer Casey Cooper installs composite exhaust wrap onto the custom Toucan Exhaust designed specifically for Sonex installations.
Avionics team volunteers Nic Dawson (left) and Adam Jacobs work the avionics install package as evening falls on another day at the One Week Wonder.
Nino and Casey put fuel in the aircraft for the first time while representatives from Swift Fuel look-on and take pictures for posterity.
Looking like a real airplane as the deadline approaches!
It's Sunday, and volunteers get final touches taken care-of like these ruddervator pushrod fairings.
Adam Jacobs cleans-up wiring forward of the firewall as the clock counts-down on Sunday afternoon.
Sonex purchasing and warehouse manager Steve Severson safeties the ruddervator pushrod bolt.
Sonex staffer Bill NcNierny smiles while he works to a ticking deadline clock on Sunday -- Bill always smiles, sings and whistles while he works!
Sensenich is another sponsor of the 2022 One Week Wonder and is the preferred propeller for all Sonex aircraft.
Sonex Founder John Monnett gives the One Week Wonder flaps a final rig check on Sunday.
N-Numbers are adhered, final checks are in-process. Not much left to do before the big Sunday taxi to the cheers of the AirVenture crowd!
Former EAA and Sonex employee Joe Norris prepares to taxi the One Week Wonder past the crowd on Sunday afternoon.
One Week Wonder begins taxiing for the air show crowd on Sunday afternoon: Mission Accomplished!
A finished Waiex B-Model One Week Wonder at the EAA Homebuilders Hangar at the conclusion of AirVenture 2022!
