Photograph:
Sonex Aircraft Onex VH-OVT (c/n 57) at Temora, NSW in March 2013 (David C Eyre)
Country of origin:
United States of America
Description:
Single-seat light sport aircraft
Power Plant:
One 60 kw (80 hp) AeroVEE Volkswagen conversion four-cylinder horizontally-opposed air-cooled engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 6.32 m (20 ft 9 in)
- Length: 5.0 m (16 ft 5 in)
- Wing area: 7.84 m² (84.4 sq ft)
- Never exceed speed: 348 km/h (216 mph)
- Cruising speed at sea level: 217 km/h (135 mph)
- Cruising speed at 2,400 m (8,000 ft): 298 km/h (185 mph)
- Max manoeuvring speed: 243 km/h (151 mph)
- Speed with full flaps: 72 km/h (45 mph)
- Stalling speed clean: 80 km/h (50 mph)
- Service ceiling: 4,877 m (16,000 ft)
- Rate of climb: 213 m/min (700 ft/min)
- Range: 861 km (535 miles)
- Fuel capacity: 56.8 litres (12.49 Imp gals)
- Empty weight: 272 kg (600 lb)
- Loaded weight: 431 kg (950 lb)
History:
The Onex is one of a series of light aircraft produced in the United States by Sonex Aircraft of Oshkosh in Wisconsin as a kit for amateur construction, the first Onex variant being flown for the first time on 27 January 2011. It was designed as an economical, easy to fly aircraft with aerobatic capability, with folding wings for ease of storage and for towing behind a vehicle. It was designed to FAR-23 static load requirements and was aimed at the US Experimental homebuilt and light sport categories. The prototype was flown with a tricycle undercarriage on 5 October 2011 and was fitted with an AeroVEE engine.
Designed by John Monnett, it was constructed from 6061 aluminium and had a moulded plastic fuel tank mounted in the fuselage. Simplicity was a goal and, with the tank forward of the pilot, the latter being able to see the amount of fuel in the tank. More than 50 kits of the Onex were shipped to builders in 2012. Power plant was usually the AeroVEE four-cylinder unit which was based on a 2.2 litre Volkswagen unit driving a Sensenich propeller. Many of the parts for the kit were laser-cut and machined. Two wing options were available, the 6.09 m (20 ft) wing and the 5.72 m (18 ft 9 in) wing.
First of the type completed and registered in this region became VH-OVT (c/n 57) at Temora, NSW, making its first flight on 7 December 2012, being followed in 2015 by VH-BHU5 (c/n 120).