Photograph:
Sonex Aircraft Sonex 19-4003 (c/n 143) at Narromine, NSW in April 2007 (David C Eyre)
Country of origin:
United States of America
Description:
Two-seat light amateur-built sport monoplane
Power Plant:
One 60 kw (80 hp) Jabiru 2200 (2200 cc) four-cylinder horizontally-opposed air-cooled engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 6.7 m (22 ft)
- Length: 5.36 m (17 ft 6 in)
- Wing area: 9.10 m² (98 sq ft)
- Max speed at sea level: 241 km/h (150 mph)
- Cruising speed at sea level at 75% power: 209 km/h (130 mph)
- Stalling speed: 74 km/h (46 mph)
- Rate of climb: 305 m/min (1,000 ft/min)
- Service ceiling: 4,877 m (16,000 ft)
- Take-off roll: 91 m (300 ft)
- Landing roll: 152 m (500 ft)
- Range: 644 km (400 miles)
- Fuel capacity: 60 litres (13.3 Imp gals)
- Empty weight: 250 kg (550 lb)
- Loaded weight: 476 kg (1,050 lb)
History:
The Sonex was a light two-seat monoplane designed by John Monnett, designer of the Monnett Sonerai, Moni, and others, and was introduced in 1998. It was marketed by Sonex Ltd of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and was available in kit form. With over 100 examples sold in the first couple of years, the type has been very popular. The aircraft was an economical all-metal machine aimed to meet the requirements of the European and US domestic market, and could be completed as a registered homebuilt, or could be registered under AUF / RAA rules. Engines ranging from 60 kw (80 hp) to 90 kw (120 hp) and weighing less than 90 kg (200 lb) could be installed and engines in the Rotax, Volkswagen derivatives, Jabiru 3300, and AeroVEE series could be installed. The aircraft could be fitted with a tricycle undercarriage, or with a tailwheel unit. The wings could be removed in ten minutes for transport and storage.
A number of variants have been made available, the Sonex Sonex having a conventional tail, the Sonex Waiex having a V-tail, and the Xenos Sport Motor Glider having a length of 6.01 m (19 ft 9 in), a wingspan of 13.92 m (45 ft 8 in), a wing area of 14.67 m² (158 sq ft) and the V-tail, aimed at the self-launched glider market. A further model was the Onex, a single-seat variant with a folding wing.
The Sonex with the six-cylinder Jabiru 3300 engine had a max speed of 274 km/h (170 mph) and a cruising speed at 2,438 m (8,000 ft) of 274 km/h (170 mph), the cruising speed at sea level being 241 km/h (150 mph). The type was available as plans, a kit or an Easy-Build Kit. The type had a strength range of +6/-3G and was described as “mildly aerobatic”. The first Sonex fitted with floats flew in the United States on 18 May 2004.
First of the type registered in this region was ZK-SNX (c/n 0096) registered at Ashburton, New Zealand, on 6 October 2000. This aircraft made its first flight on 7 November that year, being powered by a 60 kw (80 hp) Jabiru engine. Further examples have been imported to Australasia, some 22 being known of, and most are registered under Recreation Aviation Australia (RAA) regulations. A few examples have also been placed on the Australian CASA register.