Sitting behind an AeroVee
Posted: Tue Sep 27, 2016 12:02 am
Hello All!
I am 22 years old, married, studying Electrical Engineering, and would LOVE to build a plane after I graduate, and get a job that can support it. ;)
I have jumped back and forth between a Van's RV-7, and a Sonex. Both are very cute airframes, and I must say the Sonex has a bit more personality.
The cost difference is huge though:
- RV-7 Quick build kit + mid-time Lycoming + avionics, paint, etc, is ~$92k according to Van's calculator.
- Sonex Quick build kit + AeroVee + avionics + paint, etc, is ~$40-45k.
My main concern with the Sonex & Aerovee however is reliability!
And is Jabbaru much better? From what I've read, they have heat/cooling issues. But I wasn't able to find much about reliability.
This article discusses auto-conversion engines from a statistical perspective, and VW engines have a large slice of the pie.
http://www.kitplanes.com/issues/28_2/ex ... 459-1.html
Here is a list of documented Sonex accidents:
https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/db ... cType=SONX
If there have been something like 600 Sonex planes built, compared to those 25 accidents, that's a disturbing 4.1%!
Not all, but many of those are merely attributed to a "sudden loss of power". Such ambiguity disturbs me.
Questions:
1. How do I know that my AeroVee won't experience a "sudden loss of power"? Is it REALLY true that if I follow the instructions, maintain it correctly, and fly with common sense that I'll be "just fine"? How do I know I have built the engine right?
2. From what I've read, Sonex/AeroConversions have responded to engine failure by merely stating, "Well, they must have not built it right." How do you all feel about this?
3. How does the cost savings justify my perceived risk, not only to my own life (and my wife!), but also to the time and money I have in my plane?
A sudden loss of power over Nebraska might be just fine, but over hills, woods, or city, it could be disastrous!
The story of Sonex #602 still haunts me. A beautiful build, but he always had a finicky engine. And then one day, sudden loss of power, forced landing, pilot survives, but 1,000 hrs, and $40k did not.
http://www.sonex604.com/crash.html
I am happy the pilot survived, but seeing the ripped wing nearly makes me cry!
So help me though this, guys. I don't want to be a downer, and I love the Sonex air frame.
I am 22 years old, married, studying Electrical Engineering, and would LOVE to build a plane after I graduate, and get a job that can support it. ;)
I have jumped back and forth between a Van's RV-7, and a Sonex. Both are very cute airframes, and I must say the Sonex has a bit more personality.
The cost difference is huge though:
- RV-7 Quick build kit + mid-time Lycoming + avionics, paint, etc, is ~$92k according to Van's calculator.
- Sonex Quick build kit + AeroVee + avionics + paint, etc, is ~$40-45k.
My main concern with the Sonex & Aerovee however is reliability!
And is Jabbaru much better? From what I've read, they have heat/cooling issues. But I wasn't able to find much about reliability.
This article discusses auto-conversion engines from a statistical perspective, and VW engines have a large slice of the pie.
http://www.kitplanes.com/issues/28_2/ex ... 459-1.html
Here is a list of documented Sonex accidents:
https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/db ... cType=SONX
If there have been something like 600 Sonex planes built, compared to those 25 accidents, that's a disturbing 4.1%!
Not all, but many of those are merely attributed to a "sudden loss of power". Such ambiguity disturbs me.
Questions:
1. How do I know that my AeroVee won't experience a "sudden loss of power"? Is it REALLY true that if I follow the instructions, maintain it correctly, and fly with common sense that I'll be "just fine"? How do I know I have built the engine right?
2. From what I've read, Sonex/AeroConversions have responded to engine failure by merely stating, "Well, they must have not built it right." How do you all feel about this?
3. How does the cost savings justify my perceived risk, not only to my own life (and my wife!), but also to the time and money I have in my plane?
A sudden loss of power over Nebraska might be just fine, but over hills, woods, or city, it could be disastrous!
The story of Sonex #602 still haunts me. A beautiful build, but he always had a finicky engine. And then one day, sudden loss of power, forced landing, pilot survives, but 1,000 hrs, and $40k did not.
http://www.sonex604.com/crash.html
I am happy the pilot survived, but seeing the ripped wing nearly makes me cry!
So help me though this, guys. I don't want to be a downer, and I love the Sonex air frame.