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Sonex #145 First Flight
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Sonex #145 First Flight
by rizzz » Sat Nov 07, 2015 6:45 am
I'm happy to report Sonex #145, aka VH-MND, flew for the first time today.
Below is a link to a little video I've compiled from footage taken on the ground and inside the cockpit:
https://youtu.be/VKGuEdH9Fcs
The aircraft and the engine performed flawlessly.
I was very nervous all week in anticipation, but once I was lined up and pushed that throttle forward all my nerves went away and I just got into flying mode.
Other than a bit of a bumpy landing the flight was uneventful, I'm sure I'll get better at landing my girl with a bit more practice.
Take-off was quite exciting, I never expected a little VW engine to be able to pull that hard. She climbed like a rocket, at least that's what it felt like.
I did not go up very high, mostly stayed between 1500 and 2000 feet, there was some scattered cloud about today which I had to navigate my way around.
Off course I stayed within gliding distance of the airport the whole time.
Total flight time was about 20 minutes and I enjoyed every second of it, so much so that I will probably have to go do it again tomorrow :-)
Blue skies!
Michael
Below is a link to a little video I've compiled from footage taken on the ground and inside the cockpit:
https://youtu.be/VKGuEdH9Fcs
The aircraft and the engine performed flawlessly.
I was very nervous all week in anticipation, but once I was lined up and pushed that throttle forward all my nerves went away and I just got into flying mode.
Other than a bit of a bumpy landing the flight was uneventful, I'm sure I'll get better at landing my girl with a bit more practice.
Take-off was quite exciting, I never expected a little VW engine to be able to pull that hard. She climbed like a rocket, at least that's what it felt like.
I did not go up very high, mostly stayed between 1500 and 2000 feet, there was some scattered cloud about today which I had to navigate my way around.
Off course I stayed within gliding distance of the airport the whole time.
Total flight time was about 20 minutes and I enjoyed every second of it, so much so that I will probably have to go do it again tomorrow :-)
Blue skies!
Michael
Michael
Sonex #145 from scratch (mostly)
Taildragger, 2.4L VW engine, AeroInjector, Prince 54x48 P-Tip
VH-MND, CofA issued 2nd of November 2015
First flight 7th of November 2015
Phase I Completed, 11th of February 2016
http://www.mykitlog.com/rizzz/
Sonex #145 from scratch (mostly)
Taildragger, 2.4L VW engine, AeroInjector, Prince 54x48 P-Tip
VH-MND, CofA issued 2nd of November 2015
First flight 7th of November 2015
Phase I Completed, 11th of February 2016
http://www.mykitlog.com/rizzz/
- rizzz
- Posts: 869
- Joined: Tue Jun 21, 2011 2:07 am
- Location: Wollongong, NSW, Australia
Re: Sonex #145 First Flight
by jjbardell » Sat Nov 07, 2015 8:22 am
Beautiful plane and great job! Congrats on your achievement.
Building: [11323] Zenith 750 CruzerDuty27.5 / O-320 [Instagram Build Log: Zenith750CruzerSTOL]
N67LJ - Vans RV-9A #90504 (SOLD)
N83LJ - Sonex #0864 (SOLD)
https://rvpilotlife.wordpress.com/blog/home/
N67LJ - Vans RV-9A #90504 (SOLD)
N83LJ - Sonex #0864 (SOLD)
https://rvpilotlife.wordpress.com/blog/home/
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jjbardell - Posts: 315
- Joined: Wed Feb 25, 2015 5:12 pm
Sonex #145 First Flight
by Sonex1517 » Sat Nov 07, 2015 9:23 am
Congratulations!
Robbie Culver
Sonex 1517
Chicagoland
Tails and Wings complete - finishing fuselage.
N1517S reserved
Robbie Culver
Sonex 1517
Chicagoland
Tails and Wings complete - finishing fuselage.
N1517S reserved
Robbie Culver
Sonex 1517
Aero Estates (T25)
First flight 10/10/2015
375+ hours
Jabiru 3300 Gen 4
Prince P Tip
Taildragger
N1517S
Sonex 1517
Aero Estates (T25)
First flight 10/10/2015
375+ hours
Jabiru 3300 Gen 4
Prince P Tip
Taildragger
N1517S
-
Sonex1517 - Posts: 1670
- Joined: Fri Jun 03, 2011 10:11 am
- Location: T25 Aero Estates, Frankston, TX
Re: Sonex #145 First Flight
by 13brv3 » Sat Nov 07, 2015 10:19 am
Congrats! First flights are always a thrill.
Cheers,
Rusty
Cheers,
Rusty
Rusty
Onex- Rotax 912 (160 hours and counting)
Fixed wing, gyroplane, A&P
Onex- Rotax 912 (160 hours and counting)
Fixed wing, gyroplane, A&P
- 13brv3
- Posts: 466
- Joined: Fri Sep 25, 2015 11:59 am
- Location: Tellico Plains, TN
Re: Sonex #145 First Flight
by Bryan Cotton » Sat Nov 07, 2015 10:38 am
Very cool Michael! Thanks for helping to inspire the rest of us builders with your success!
Bryan Cotton
Poplar Grove, IL C77
Waiex 191 N191YX
Taildragger, Aerovee, acro ailerons
dual sticks with sport trainer controls
Prebuilt spars and machined angle kit
Year 2 flying and approaching 200 hours December 23
Poplar Grove, IL C77
Waiex 191 N191YX
Taildragger, Aerovee, acro ailerons
dual sticks with sport trainer controls
Prebuilt spars and machined angle kit
Year 2 flying and approaching 200 hours December 23
-
Bryan Cotton - Posts: 5496
- Joined: Mon Jul 01, 2013 9:54 pm
- Location: C77
Re: Sonex #145 First Flight
by Sonex1243 » Sat Nov 07, 2015 10:43 am
Congratulations Michael, beautiful aircraft!
Ken S
SONEX #1243 N424SX (reserved)
Tail complete, wings done
Fuselage on gear
Jab 3300 received!
SONEX #1243 N424SX (reserved)
Tail complete, wings done
Fuselage on gear
Jab 3300 received!
- Sonex1243
- Posts: 312
- Joined: Thu Jan 08, 2015 4:59 pm
Re: Sonex #145 First Flight
by Rynoth » Sat Nov 07, 2015 11:03 am
Awesome Michael, congrats!
Ryan Roth
N197RR - Waiex #197 (Turbo Aerovee Taildragger)
Knoxville, TN (Hangar at KRKW)
My project blog: http://www.rynoth.com/wordpress/waiex/
Time-lapse video of my build: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8QTd2HoyAM
N197RR - Waiex #197 (Turbo Aerovee Taildragger)
Knoxville, TN (Hangar at KRKW)
My project blog: http://www.rynoth.com/wordpress/waiex/
Time-lapse video of my build: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8QTd2HoyAM
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Rynoth - Posts: 1308
- Joined: Fri Jul 26, 2013 1:32 pm
- Location: Knoxville, TN
Re: Sonex #145 First Flight
by N111YX » Sat Nov 07, 2015 11:47 am
Well done, Michael!
Nice tailwheel, too...
Nice tailwheel, too...
Kip
2010 Waiex 0082 (first flight May 2010)
Jabiru 3300 #1637 and #3035
Dynon D-180
Becker radios
Garmin GDL 82 ADS-B
1175 hours
48 states visited
Based near Atlanta
Also flying a...
2000 Kolb Firestar II, Rotax 503, 575 hours
2010 Waiex 0082 (first flight May 2010)
Jabiru 3300 #1637 and #3035
Dynon D-180
Becker radios
Garmin GDL 82 ADS-B
1175 hours
48 states visited
Based near Atlanta
Also flying a...
2000 Kolb Firestar II, Rotax 503, 575 hours
- N111YX
- Posts: 711
- Joined: Fri Jun 03, 2011 9:43 am
- Location: Atlanta, GA USA
Re: Sonex #145 First Flight
by Bryan Cotton » Sat Nov 07, 2015 12:41 pm
I liked the video. Wow, for VW power your ship really left the earth with a pretty good climb. Then again, with all you guys being upside down and all, it is a miracle that anything sticks to the ground down there.
Don't forget to update your signature!
Don't forget to update your signature!
Bryan Cotton
Poplar Grove, IL C77
Waiex 191 N191YX
Taildragger, Aerovee, acro ailerons
dual sticks with sport trainer controls
Prebuilt spars and machined angle kit
Year 2 flying and approaching 200 hours December 23
Poplar Grove, IL C77
Waiex 191 N191YX
Taildragger, Aerovee, acro ailerons
dual sticks with sport trainer controls
Prebuilt spars and machined angle kit
Year 2 flying and approaching 200 hours December 23
-
Bryan Cotton - Posts: 5496
- Joined: Mon Jul 01, 2013 9:54 pm
- Location: C77
Re: Sonex #145 First Flight
by MichaelFarley56 » Sat Nov 07, 2015 1:25 pm
Congratulations Michael! Your Sonex looks beautiful and it looks like you had a textbook first flight!
Great work and I look forward to hearing how your test flights continue!
Great work and I look forward to hearing how your test flights continue!
Mike Farley
Waiex #0056 - N569KM (sold)
Onex #245
Waiex #0056 - N569KM (sold)
Onex #245
- MichaelFarley56
- Posts: 1485
- Joined: Thu Jun 02, 2011 11:38 pm
- Location: Columbus, Ohio
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