New guy from California

[1flyingyogi]

Hi everyone. I'm a brand new pilot - just passed my check-ride on Sunday!! I started flying lessons about 8 years ago, but because of lack of time/ money, had to quit after 6 hours in a Cessna. I started up in July of this year again flying the Sling LSA and it's been a blast.

I've been flying R/C (mostly giant scale aerobatics - both 3D and IMAC) for almost 10 years and have loved anything that flies since I was a kid. I'm super excited now to finally be a "real" pilot!

If there's anyone here who's in Southern California, it'd be great to meet up and talk Sonex and aviation in general. I have LOTS to learn, but am very enthusiastic and excited about doing it.

Brian

[Rynoth]

Welcome Brian! Congrats on passing your checkride! Where in Southern Cal are you located?

[1flyingyogi]

Welcome Brian! Congrats on passing your checkride! Where in Southern Cal are you located?

I'm in the LA area. Specifically, I live about 5 minutes from KLGB (Long Beach) and trained out of KTOA (Torrance).

[1flyingyogi]

Welcome Brian! Congrats on passing your checkride! Where in Southern Cal are you located?

Thanks Ryoth. I see from your signature that you fly with the Turbo Aerovee. How do you like it? I hear it performs better than the Jabiru 3300 "at altitude". But exactly what altitude does the turbo begin to be better than the Jabiru. What are the major pluses and minuses of each engine choice? Sorry for all the questions right up front. LOL.

[Bryan Cotton]

Hey Brian! Welcome to the forums and congrats on the checkride! If you are thinking of building or buying a Sonex you have found the right spot online. The Sonex factory website also lets you search for builders in your area- check it out.

[Rynoth]

Welcome Brian! Congrats on passing your checkride! Where in Southern Cal are you located?

Thanks Ryoth. I see from your signature that you fly with the Turbo Aerovee. How do you like it? I hear it performs better than the Jabiru 3300 "at altitude". But exactly what altitude does the turbo begin to be better than the Jabiru. What are the major pluses and minuses of each engine choice? Sorry for all the questions right up front. LOL.

I haven't actually flown my Turbo Aerovee yet (but getting darned close!), I'm sure others here can chime in on + and - of engine choices.

[1flyingyogi]

Hey Brian! Welcome to the forums and congrats on the checkride! If you are thinking of building or buying a Sonex you have found the right spot online. The Sonex factory website also lets you search for builders in your area- check it out.

Thanks Bryan! I've browsed Sonex's website, but didn't realize they had a listing of builders in my area until you mentioned it in your post. That's a great resource to have!

I didn't want to admit it up front (seeing that this is a "builders forum"), but at this point I don't have a desire (no time!) to build and am just looking to buy a used Sonex. However, I would like to learn as much as I can about the aircraft and be knowledgeable enough to maintain it myself and do simple installations/ projects on it as needed. Hope I don't get a lot of heat for admitting this. LOL.

[Rynoth]

Don't be shy at all Brian, there are plenty of post-build/second hand owners on this site, and lots of information already posted and even more available from the members of the site. You've come to the right place for info on the Sonex!

[1flyingyogi]

Don't be shy at all Brian, there are plenty of post-build/second hand owners on this site, and lots of information already posted and even more available from the members of the site. You've come to the right place for info on the Sonex!

That's good to know. Thanks. I thought I would get a lot of heat for not being a builder. LOL.

That's a great Youtube video you have by the way! Very cool time-lapse of your build. Reminds me a little of building RC (and some of my planes are quite big - about 10ft wingspan, 35% scale), but of course a project like this is WAY more involved and requires way more skill than what I'd be comfortable with. =)

What made you decide on the turbo vs. the Jabiru? I'm sure cost was a big factor, but anything else? If cost were the same for both engines, do you think you would have gone with the Jabiru? The more I look at it, the more impressed I am by it's specs.

Great to be on the forum!

[Bryan Cotton]

+1 for what Ryan said. We have a bunch of Sonex recyclers here. It is actually a smart way to go if you are careful. I like to build. We are all still brothers.