Sonex in Europe: Newsletters, Discussion and Info
Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2020 1:04 pmIt’s been suggested that I post the Sonex in Europe newsletter on this forum, I hope this thread is appropriate. I doubt the photos will come through, so if you’re needing to see the whole thing drop me an email and I’ll send you a copy direct.
Sonex LLC of Oshkosh WI, USA have no part in the production of this newsletter, contents are solely the responsibility of the author.
Hello everyone.
Strange times we live in! I trust that you and your families are all well.
At least for those of us confined to our homes, but with our kits in build there, there’s ample time to get on and make significant progress, keeping us occupied and happy. However those of us with flyable aircraft sitting in a hangar somewhere but not allowed to go fly during the glorious weather we’ve been having is very frustrating. It will end.........
When Covid 19 flying restrictions are lifted please take care going flying again. We'll all be to some degree or another out of practice and currency flying. Also our aircraft may well have been sitting around unused for many weeks, indeed possibly months considering the poor weather we had here in the U.K. over the winter.
These last few weeks of not flying have been the peak time for wildlife nesting activities, general temperatures have changed significantly, dampness from the winter may have lingered. Aircraft will need careful inspection for nests, wooden prop bolts re-torqued, lubrication etc.
The U.K. Light Aircraft Association have published a very useful Technical Leaflet all about precautions and inspections to consider returning your aircraft to flight, TL2.32, you can get a copy from the LAA website - www.lightaircraftassociation.co.uk
I suggest personal caution too. Just leaping into your aircraft and blasting off into the wild blue yonder might not be the best approach. Please take your time preparing yourself for getting airborne again, I suggest spending a while re reading safety information, any type operating information you have, articles about flying, checking validity of your Licence, Rating, Medical/Declaration and most importantly your aircrafts' Insurance. Here in the U.K. the LAA Coaching Scheme can help, perhaps have a chat with a Coach, even make your first flight back airborne with a Coach along with you. Given suitable circumstances that flight could possibly constitute your '1 hour flight with an Instructor' to revalidate your Rating, even if your expiry date is some way off in the future.
The recently released rule allowing a flight every 4 weeks for engine health maintenance here in the U.K. gives rise to further complications however as it must be made solo, so no help on board from another brain and pair of eyes.
GCIDP progress:
Paul Marshall's AeroVee powered Sonex A has now had it’s Permit to Fly issued by the CAA, but the actual document has yet to reach his hands from the LAA. Paul was ready and eager to get checked out just as the lockdown started. So he’s in the frustrating position of at last having his aircraft flyable, but has to leave it in the hangar. I plan to get him up to speed and off enjoying himself as soon as possible after we’re all released. The aircraft is now at Shobdon.
GEEHA progress:
Jem de Salis' beautiful Jabiru 3300 Sonex A had its first flight, back before the New Year, at Wycombe Air Park. I learnt to fly there nearly 50 years ago so it was a nostalgic return to my roots. Overall a successful event, the aircraft flew very well with no need for any trim adjustments and I got the first hour's run in of the engine completed. Once I’d done the hour I throttled back to explore slow flight and flap deployment for landing, only to have the engine stop abruptly. I was over the airfield within gliding distance of the runway so no great problem, and indeed the engine restarted immediately I pushed the start button. A little further experimentation and 2 further stoppages showed that the most likely cause was too low an idle stop setting. So I flew a powered approach not closing the throttle until in the flare, whereupon I completed the expected 'dead stick' landing without further problems. I’d warned ATC this would happen, but prior knowledge didn’t stop them and the fire and rescue people getting a little excited.
One CHT was a little high, and we later found a fuel weep from the tank, so Jem took the aircraft out of service to attend to those matters. However the lockdown intervened before we could attempt another flight.
GCYMI progress:
I’m not sure if it’ll work, but below should be a link to a short video Tim sent me of his AeroVee Sonex A doing an initial engine run following an engine change. Tim eventually received his Permit to Fly towards the end of last year following a very long saga trying to get reasonable performance from his original engine, which had been professionally built for him. Eventually I suggested he try my AeroVee in the Aircraft, as it was sitting around doing nothing since I completed it a while ago, to see if that improved matters. In general terms it did, though perhaps not to the performance I’ve found in other AeroVee powered Sonexii. Still it was good enough to get the Permit issue flight test done, and Tim was busy getting checked out with his friend and test pilot John Baker when the Coronavirus curtain came down.
LAA Rally 2020:
It may seem some time away, and under threat from the unprecedented restrictions we live with these days, but there is I believe a good chance we’ll be able to enjoy our annual festival of aircraft and flying. It’ll be, if it goes ahead as planned, at Sywell Aerodrome north of London as usual. Dates are the 4/5/6th September. There are now many Sonexii flying in the U.K., into double figures, and many more on the continent. Please think about flying in so we can show off lots of the best kit built homebuilt aircraft around to all and sundry. I’ll do another newsletter a month or so before the event with further detail. To illustrate the mind set of people attending the Rally a local hospital did some research last year:
Incra measuring equipment:
There was a link in a recent post on the american Sonex Builders and Pilots forum to a company producing precision measuring and marking devices. Naturally being a tool freak I had to have a look. (My wife accuses me of building my kit just so I can buy tools....) The rulers and protractors look very good, and as illustrated in the promotional video, give a very high degree of accuracy, though it’s not clear if a Sharpie would work for marking out, even the 'ultra fine' Sharpie marker might be too wide. The recommended fine pencil I suggest not a good idea as tradition has it that the graphite would react with aluminium to produce stress risers. I have had that threat dismissed however by no lesser person than my Inspector.
Incra at: www.incra.com
A dealer with stock here in the U.K.: www.rutlands.co.uk
Rudder hinge crack in a US aircraft:
You may have seen reports of a problem found in a Y tail Sonex aircraft, I think a Waiex, recently. I couldn’t open the posted pictures so I’m not sure of exactly what was found, but Sonex LLC have just released a Service Bulletin requiring inspection of the area. There are no Y tailed Sonex series aircraft flying here in the U.K. I believe, but there are on the continent. If you have one and you’ve not seen the SB I suggest going to the Sonex website to have a read. And whilst the SB only refers to Y tailed aircraft (Waiex, Xenos etc) a careful look at the bottom of any Sonex tailpost fittings next time you are at your aircraft might be a good idea.
New member:
Carlos Trigo, who lives in Cascais near Lisbon/Lisboa in Portugal, is building a Xenos B.
He tells me that he’s a 'repeat offender', having built an RV-10 for a friend and an RV-9A for himself over a total of 13 years effort. I suspect he’ll find a Xenos build simpler than the RVs based on what I’ve seen of friends of mine with their builds. Carlos, when able, visits the U.K. often so hopefully we’ll be able to meet him in person some time, maybe at the Rally?
Thinks......how about a Sonex fly out to Portugal? That would be an adventure! It could include a visit to Gibraltar, a very interesting place to land. Maybe 2022?
GSNXA progress:
I’ve managed quite a bit of work on my kit, having spent many many hours working out a wiring plan (with a great deal of welcome help from a knowledgeable friend) and then designing and building the Instrument panel so I’ve got something to connect wires to. In the picture above the labelling is temporary and the EFIS is just a picture stuck on with blue tack, but one day......
Another illustration of tool fun: the picture is a screen grab from an iPhone so apologies for the header and footer that I don’t know how to remove.
And finally, for a little smile....
Lockdown lingo - are you fully conversant with the new terminology?
*Coronacoaster*
The ups and downs of your mood during the pandemic. You’re loving lockdown one minute but suddenly weepy with anxiety the next. It truly is “an emotional coronacoaster”.
*Quarantinis*
Experimental cocktails mixed from whatever random ingredients you have left in the house. The boozy equivalent of a store cupboard supper. Southern Comfort and Ribena quarantini with a glacé cherry garnish, anyone? These are sipped at “locktail hour”, ie. wine o’clock during lockdown, which seems to be creeping earlier with each passing week.
*Blue Skype thinking*
A work brainstorming session which takes place over a videoconferencing app. Such meetings might also be termed a “Zoomposium”. Naturally, they are to be avoided if at all possible.
*Le Creuset wrist*
It’s the new “avocado hand” - an aching arm after taking one’s best saucepan outside to bang during the weekly ‘Clap For Carers.’ It might be heavy but you’re keen to impress the neighbours with your high-quality kitchenware.
*Coronials*
As opposed to millennials, this refers to the future generation of babies conceived or born during coronavirus quarantine. They might also become known as “Generation C” or, more spookily, “Children of the Quarn”.
*Furlough Merlot*
Wine consumed in an attempt to relieve the frustration of not working. Also known as “bored-eaux” or “cabernet tedium”.
*Coronadose*
An overdose of bad news from consuming too much media during a time of crisis. Can result in a panicdemic.
*The elephant in the Zoom*
The glaring issue during a videoconferencing call that nobody feels able to mention. E.g. one participant has dramatically put on weight, suddenly sprouted terrible facial hair or has a worryingly messy house visible in the background.
*Quentin Quarantino*
An attention-seeker using their time in lockdown to make amateur films which they’re convinced are funnier and cleverer than they actually are.
*Covidiot* or *Wuhan-ker*
One who ignores public health advice or behaves with reckless disregard for the safety of others can be said to display “covidiocy” or be “covidiotic”. Also called a “lockclown” or even a “Wuhan-ker”.
*Goutbreak*
The sudden fear that you’ve consumed so much wine, cheese, home-made cake and Easter chocolate in lockdown that your ankles are swelling up like a medieval king’s.
*Antisocial distancing*
Using health precautions as an excuse for snubbing neighbours and generally ignoring people you find irritating.
*Coughin’ dodger*
Someone so alarmed by an innocuous splutter or throat-clear that they back away in terror.
*Mask-ara*
Extra make-up applied to "make one's eyes pop" before venturing out in public wearing a face mask.
*Covid-10*
The 10lbs in weight that we’re all gaining from comfort-eating and comfort-drinking. Also known as “fattening the curve”.
…and finally, finally: One sentence to sum up 2020, so far: At one point this week, 1 loo roll was worth more than a barrel of crude oil!
As always, comments, corrections, suggestions, and articles welcome. Brickbats too if necessary. If you no longer wish to receive these email newsletters just let me know.
Keep safe,
Steve Moody
Leamington Spa, England
Sonex A #1383, AeroVee, tailwheel, 90% done - 90% to go.
stevemoody04@aol.com
Sonex LLC of Oshkosh WI, USA have no part in the production of this newsletter, contents are solely the responsibility of the author.
Hello everyone.
Strange times we live in! I trust that you and your families are all well.
At least for those of us confined to our homes, but with our kits in build there, there’s ample time to get on and make significant progress, keeping us occupied and happy. However those of us with flyable aircraft sitting in a hangar somewhere but not allowed to go fly during the glorious weather we’ve been having is very frustrating. It will end.........
When Covid 19 flying restrictions are lifted please take care going flying again. We'll all be to some degree or another out of practice and currency flying. Also our aircraft may well have been sitting around unused for many weeks, indeed possibly months considering the poor weather we had here in the U.K. over the winter.
These last few weeks of not flying have been the peak time for wildlife nesting activities, general temperatures have changed significantly, dampness from the winter may have lingered. Aircraft will need careful inspection for nests, wooden prop bolts re-torqued, lubrication etc.
The U.K. Light Aircraft Association have published a very useful Technical Leaflet all about precautions and inspections to consider returning your aircraft to flight, TL2.32, you can get a copy from the LAA website - www.lightaircraftassociation.co.uk
I suggest personal caution too. Just leaping into your aircraft and blasting off into the wild blue yonder might not be the best approach. Please take your time preparing yourself for getting airborne again, I suggest spending a while re reading safety information, any type operating information you have, articles about flying, checking validity of your Licence, Rating, Medical/Declaration and most importantly your aircrafts' Insurance. Here in the U.K. the LAA Coaching Scheme can help, perhaps have a chat with a Coach, even make your first flight back airborne with a Coach along with you. Given suitable circumstances that flight could possibly constitute your '1 hour flight with an Instructor' to revalidate your Rating, even if your expiry date is some way off in the future.
The recently released rule allowing a flight every 4 weeks for engine health maintenance here in the U.K. gives rise to further complications however as it must be made solo, so no help on board from another brain and pair of eyes.
GCIDP progress:
Paul Marshall's AeroVee powered Sonex A has now had it’s Permit to Fly issued by the CAA, but the actual document has yet to reach his hands from the LAA. Paul was ready and eager to get checked out just as the lockdown started. So he’s in the frustrating position of at last having his aircraft flyable, but has to leave it in the hangar. I plan to get him up to speed and off enjoying himself as soon as possible after we’re all released. The aircraft is now at Shobdon.
GEEHA progress:
Jem de Salis' beautiful Jabiru 3300 Sonex A had its first flight, back before the New Year, at Wycombe Air Park. I learnt to fly there nearly 50 years ago so it was a nostalgic return to my roots. Overall a successful event, the aircraft flew very well with no need for any trim adjustments and I got the first hour's run in of the engine completed. Once I’d done the hour I throttled back to explore slow flight and flap deployment for landing, only to have the engine stop abruptly. I was over the airfield within gliding distance of the runway so no great problem, and indeed the engine restarted immediately I pushed the start button. A little further experimentation and 2 further stoppages showed that the most likely cause was too low an idle stop setting. So I flew a powered approach not closing the throttle until in the flare, whereupon I completed the expected 'dead stick' landing without further problems. I’d warned ATC this would happen, but prior knowledge didn’t stop them and the fire and rescue people getting a little excited.
One CHT was a little high, and we later found a fuel weep from the tank, so Jem took the aircraft out of service to attend to those matters. However the lockdown intervened before we could attempt another flight.
GCYMI progress:
I’m not sure if it’ll work, but below should be a link to a short video Tim sent me of his AeroVee Sonex A doing an initial engine run following an engine change. Tim eventually received his Permit to Fly towards the end of last year following a very long saga trying to get reasonable performance from his original engine, which had been professionally built for him. Eventually I suggested he try my AeroVee in the Aircraft, as it was sitting around doing nothing since I completed it a while ago, to see if that improved matters. In general terms it did, though perhaps not to the performance I’ve found in other AeroVee powered Sonexii. Still it was good enough to get the Permit issue flight test done, and Tim was busy getting checked out with his friend and test pilot John Baker when the Coronavirus curtain came down.
LAA Rally 2020:
It may seem some time away, and under threat from the unprecedented restrictions we live with these days, but there is I believe a good chance we’ll be able to enjoy our annual festival of aircraft and flying. It’ll be, if it goes ahead as planned, at Sywell Aerodrome north of London as usual. Dates are the 4/5/6th September. There are now many Sonexii flying in the U.K., into double figures, and many more on the continent. Please think about flying in so we can show off lots of the best kit built homebuilt aircraft around to all and sundry. I’ll do another newsletter a month or so before the event with further detail. To illustrate the mind set of people attending the Rally a local hospital did some research last year:
Incra measuring equipment:
There was a link in a recent post on the american Sonex Builders and Pilots forum to a company producing precision measuring and marking devices. Naturally being a tool freak I had to have a look. (My wife accuses me of building my kit just so I can buy tools....) The rulers and protractors look very good, and as illustrated in the promotional video, give a very high degree of accuracy, though it’s not clear if a Sharpie would work for marking out, even the 'ultra fine' Sharpie marker might be too wide. The recommended fine pencil I suggest not a good idea as tradition has it that the graphite would react with aluminium to produce stress risers. I have had that threat dismissed however by no lesser person than my Inspector.
Incra at: www.incra.com
A dealer with stock here in the U.K.: www.rutlands.co.uk
Rudder hinge crack in a US aircraft:
You may have seen reports of a problem found in a Y tail Sonex aircraft, I think a Waiex, recently. I couldn’t open the posted pictures so I’m not sure of exactly what was found, but Sonex LLC have just released a Service Bulletin requiring inspection of the area. There are no Y tailed Sonex series aircraft flying here in the U.K. I believe, but there are on the continent. If you have one and you’ve not seen the SB I suggest going to the Sonex website to have a read. And whilst the SB only refers to Y tailed aircraft (Waiex, Xenos etc) a careful look at the bottom of any Sonex tailpost fittings next time you are at your aircraft might be a good idea.
New member:
Carlos Trigo, who lives in Cascais near Lisbon/Lisboa in Portugal, is building a Xenos B.
He tells me that he’s a 'repeat offender', having built an RV-10 for a friend and an RV-9A for himself over a total of 13 years effort. I suspect he’ll find a Xenos build simpler than the RVs based on what I’ve seen of friends of mine with their builds. Carlos, when able, visits the U.K. often so hopefully we’ll be able to meet him in person some time, maybe at the Rally?
Thinks......how about a Sonex fly out to Portugal? That would be an adventure! It could include a visit to Gibraltar, a very interesting place to land. Maybe 2022?
GSNXA progress:
I’ve managed quite a bit of work on my kit, having spent many many hours working out a wiring plan (with a great deal of welcome help from a knowledgeable friend) and then designing and building the Instrument panel so I’ve got something to connect wires to. In the picture above the labelling is temporary and the EFIS is just a picture stuck on with blue tack, but one day......
Another illustration of tool fun: the picture is a screen grab from an iPhone so apologies for the header and footer that I don’t know how to remove.
And finally, for a little smile....
Lockdown lingo - are you fully conversant with the new terminology?
*Coronacoaster*
The ups and downs of your mood during the pandemic. You’re loving lockdown one minute but suddenly weepy with anxiety the next. It truly is “an emotional coronacoaster”.
*Quarantinis*
Experimental cocktails mixed from whatever random ingredients you have left in the house. The boozy equivalent of a store cupboard supper. Southern Comfort and Ribena quarantini with a glacé cherry garnish, anyone? These are sipped at “locktail hour”, ie. wine o’clock during lockdown, which seems to be creeping earlier with each passing week.
*Blue Skype thinking*
A work brainstorming session which takes place over a videoconferencing app. Such meetings might also be termed a “Zoomposium”. Naturally, they are to be avoided if at all possible.
*Le Creuset wrist*
It’s the new “avocado hand” - an aching arm after taking one’s best saucepan outside to bang during the weekly ‘Clap For Carers.’ It might be heavy but you’re keen to impress the neighbours with your high-quality kitchenware.
*Coronials*
As opposed to millennials, this refers to the future generation of babies conceived or born during coronavirus quarantine. They might also become known as “Generation C” or, more spookily, “Children of the Quarn”.
*Furlough Merlot*
Wine consumed in an attempt to relieve the frustration of not working. Also known as “bored-eaux” or “cabernet tedium”.
*Coronadose*
An overdose of bad news from consuming too much media during a time of crisis. Can result in a panicdemic.
*The elephant in the Zoom*
The glaring issue during a videoconferencing call that nobody feels able to mention. E.g. one participant has dramatically put on weight, suddenly sprouted terrible facial hair or has a worryingly messy house visible in the background.
*Quentin Quarantino*
An attention-seeker using their time in lockdown to make amateur films which they’re convinced are funnier and cleverer than they actually are.
*Covidiot* or *Wuhan-ker*
One who ignores public health advice or behaves with reckless disregard for the safety of others can be said to display “covidiocy” or be “covidiotic”. Also called a “lockclown” or even a “Wuhan-ker”.
*Goutbreak*
The sudden fear that you’ve consumed so much wine, cheese, home-made cake and Easter chocolate in lockdown that your ankles are swelling up like a medieval king’s.
*Antisocial distancing*
Using health precautions as an excuse for snubbing neighbours and generally ignoring people you find irritating.
*Coughin’ dodger*
Someone so alarmed by an innocuous splutter or throat-clear that they back away in terror.
*Mask-ara*
Extra make-up applied to "make one's eyes pop" before venturing out in public wearing a face mask.
*Covid-10*
The 10lbs in weight that we’re all gaining from comfort-eating and comfort-drinking. Also known as “fattening the curve”.
…and finally, finally: One sentence to sum up 2020, so far: At one point this week, 1 loo roll was worth more than a barrel of crude oil!
As always, comments, corrections, suggestions, and articles welcome. Brickbats too if necessary. If you no longer wish to receive these email newsletters just let me know.
Keep safe,
Steve Moody
Leamington Spa, England
Sonex A #1383, AeroVee, tailwheel, 90% done - 90% to go.
stevemoody04@aol.com