SonexBuilders.net

Greetings! I am moving to Colorado (the mountains) in a few weeks. The ground elevation at the closest airports is 7k plus. I have serious doubts I should be taking with me my aerovee Onex I bought last year. I have no experience with mountain flying (which is curable), but I have a sense that an aerovee Onex would be underpowered at that ground elevation, especially in the summer. I am not confident enough to re-engine the airplane with a Jabiru and, for various reasons, upgrading it with the turbo kit is not an option I would consider.
Granted, an aerovee Onex is not particularly underpowered by the general aviation standards. Probably the majority of general aviation airplanes (including experimental ones) would be challenged at that altitude.
I'd appreciate it if people share their thoughts.
Thanks!

Gary Motley flys his naturally aspirated VW Sonex solo out of KBJC just fine. You need to connect with him. Your Onex will be fine since it should be a bit lighter. Put the UL power 130 on it, and it will be a rocket! And don't write off the turbo. It has some growing pains but I've flown behind it and its quite nice. Where are you basing out of?

Thanks! Right now the Onex is on Cape Cod at Chatham. Looking to be in Steamboat Springs in CO.

I lived and gave flight instruction in Colorado for around 20 years. The airplane is not nearly as important as the pilot's knowledge, skills and abilities. I have taught people to fly into Leadville (elevation over 9900') in 145 HP C172s. It's what you know, not the airplane. I also gave instruction in an 85 HP Champ at KFTG.

Find a good mountain instructor, preferably one with a CFI-glider also. Get some glider instruction and you may find the OneX is all the aircraft you need, even with a non turbo AeroVee. I was the ATC tower manage at BJC years ago, never considered it or any other airport on the Front Range a mountain airport.

Martin Walker
N814MG (Maule MT7-235 for sale)
N922PL (Xenos my wife will have to sell when I'm gone)

There's a sailplane club in Steamboat that flies in the summer with a winch launch. They operate out of a ranch between Steamboat and Hayden IIRC. A good place to practice your mountain flying skills.

I live in Steamboat to ski during the winter and when back in Ohio, am working on a Onex. Drop me a PM if you want any info on the town.

Cheers

Thank you!

Mountain flying training is certainly on my agenda. I have a few hours in a glider, but never got the rating.

I will check in with the CO sonex fliers once I get there!