SonexBuilders.net

I've been thinking of building another plane but I've been away from aviation since 2003. In looking at the models out there now there seems to be a lot of choices but the Sonex/Waiex are pretty sexy looking birds. Aside from good looks, why is the Sonex the plane to build and fly? What makes it the special?

Simple, affordable, good performance, proven design and, relatively easy to build.

What he said. Great design, proven track record, fairly easy to build, and to me - after years of research - the company is run by a family with a history of good designs and honest business. I expect they will be around a while, which is no small thing in kit building.

I spent a lot of time deciding what to build. When I first saw the Sonex, I thought it was ugly and kind of disregarded it. But the more I read and researched, the more I realized that all the points Kip made are true, and the looks actually grow on you when you understand the design. Some other points:

1) The +6/-3 g limits provide a great margin of strength to the airframe, even if you never plan to do aerobatics.

2) The aerodynamics are well-designed enough to cruise at 160+mph, yet stall gently at 40-45mph. That wide a flight envelope is very rare in GA or E-AB aircraft.

3) Lots of build options...taildragger, tri-gear, dual controls or center stick, factory support for engines from 80hp to 120hp, and you can build from plans, a full kit, or subkits. You can customize to your building and flying style and preferences more than many other E-AB airplanes.

4) Efficiency. A Sonex at 1150lb gross weight has a useful load similar to LSA that have almost 200lb more gross weight. That means better performance while still carrying two people and some gear.

5) Great factory support. The tech staff really wants you to succeed and finish your build, and they really are helpful. I have never waited more than one full business days for an answer to a tech question from Sonex.

If you can manage it, I'd recommend attending one the Sonex builder workshops they run twice a year. You'll get a LOT of information on every aspect of the airplane, as well as experience with the building techniques used. And the cost of the workshop is deducted from the kit cost if you decide to build a Sonex.

There are a lot of great airplanes out there, good luck choosing one!

Their marketing tagline says a lot: "The Sport Aircraft Reality Check". You don't have to spend 50, 60, 70K ++, nor do you need lots of specialized skills, to build a decent aircraft. Affordable performance is what it is all about for me - emphasis on affordable.

The first homebuilt I'm a partner in took the better part of two decades to build. It was a "typical" 1200 hour build that took over 5000 hours to build. So, my list for the Waiex includes:

1. Quick and easy to build. I think I will end up taking right around 1200 hours to get my plane ready to fly. Plus metal is faster to get ready to paint.
2. Most of my fun flying is local, and I like the idea of only burning 4 gallons per hour.
3. Great visibility with the canopy.
4. Fun to fly with light controls.
5. Strong enough for aerobatics even if you aren't planning on them.
6. Rare enough that I can keep mine unique.
7. After finding a "used" (but never started) kit, even after buying a new Aerovee I think I'll have my plane flying for $25,000 to $28,000.

And to counter the naysayers that it is no good for XC, check out some of Aaron Knight's videos on YouTube. This one is my favorite:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2gTQVZkxTs

dbdevkc wrote:And to counter the naysayers that it is no good for XC, check out some of Aaron Knight's videos on YouTube. This one is my favorite:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2gTQVZkxTs

Yeah, I plan to use mine for cross country flying. It should fit me & the wife and max 40lb baggage with full fuel...what more can you ask for from a plane with 1200lb gross weight (the weight I plan to certify at)? The cockpit is a little tight for two normal sized people (The Monnetts are hobbits, and I think they designed it around other hobbits), but not uncomfortable. I'd say the least comfortable part is getting in and out; once you're in the seat it's all good.

Your wife must be alot different than mine. JoAnn will go for a 45 minute Sunday morning jaunt but the idea of 2 hour crosscountry legs is completely unacceptable. Traveling with a Sonex is somewhat akin to traveling with a motorcycle....fun if you're into it.

radfordc wrote:Your wife must be alot different than mine. JoAnn will go for a 45 minute Sunday morning jaunt but the idea of 2 hour crosscountry legs is completely unacceptable. Traveling with a Sonex is somewhat akin to traveling with a motorcycle....fun if you're into it.

LOL, she's a good sport I have to admit! :D