looking at purchasing a 90% complete sonex - but no Logs!!!

[Jgibson]

The issue isn't completing it and licensing it. You can absolutely do that without any different issues encountered by someone who built from the start. But IF you want to apply for the repairman's cert, then you'll have to verify and document that you have actually done the work. But there is NOTHING preventing you from purchasing it, registering it with Sonex, completing the work, having it inspected and signed off by your DAR, and enjoying it simply because previous work logs have been lost. You are basically building a plane from 'parts' purchased. And the old adage of '90% finished and 90% to go always applies. You'll be surprised at what you still need to do to complete it.

[bearcat]

I brought it home tonight! And after talking with the guy who did most of the work I'm hoping maybe he can recreate some kind of basic log to go with it. Plus I do still have lots of work to do, that I'll keep track of. I'm not too worried. Even after buying the plans I'll be into it for $9500 with the engine and prop. I think I'm in good shape.

[bearcat]

[Bryan Cotton]

Cool- you should get the Rotorway too! Or is that yours already?

[bearcat]

Cool- you should get the Rotorway too! Or is that yours already?

Nope, not mine. But I think it was for sale. This guy had all kinds of cool stuff, he's a helicopter pilot, instructor, and broker. I could have spent all day looking around his barn

[SonexN76ET]

From your pictures and description I would surmise that you are about 60% complete. Much of what still needs to be done is very time consuming. Plus you will have a steep learning curve as you won't be able to accomplish the baby steps used to hone your skills such as building the tail kit. You will also need to go over everything already done with a fine tooth comb while following the plans to ensure the original work was done correctly. I would also be alarmed that some of the owners were so careless to loose something as critical as the build logs. So please carefully go over the plane to see what other careless mistakes may have occurred.

Some things that are time consuming are:

Fitting the cowling
Fitting the canopy, windscreen and frame
Panel and electrical
Rigging the wings
Aligning the gear
Paint/polish

Some things to pay extra attention to:

Some of the early scratch builders have had corrosion problems with the push pull tubes they welded together themselves
Elevator horn in the tail being properly safetied and not having interference issues
Aileron bell cranks properly mounted, aligned and safetied
Forward fuselage to tail mounting
Engine mount
Engine mount to frame mounting and alignment

If it were me, I would rebuild the engine to ensure it was properly assembled following the Aerovee manual.

Make sure you get the Sonex Builders checklist.

You will learn a great deal as you complete your plane. Be patient. Nothing will come together as quickly as you desire. Take it in small steps. Have fun while building!

Jake

[bnvoss]

Chad,
If you decide to purchase the plane, I have a set of Sonex plans I will give you for the price of shipping. They are old, Sonex serial 332. The Sonex that was built from them crashed and was destroyed several years ago. Check with Sonex, LLC, but I think you can use them since you already have a 90% (?) built plane. If you are interested, contact me off-line. bvossman at austin.rr.com.
Bob Sonex 550

[ScottM-Sonex1629]

What a great opportunity to be an early beta tester of the B-Model conversion kit! If your going to take it apart and start over take it back to the first turtledeck former and build the tri-gear using the newer wider B-model!

[bearcat]

Yes, the B Model conversion is definitely an option. As well as the turbo kit! I plan on looking into both.

And yeah I do plan to take the aerovee apart as well.

The plane was last owned by a chinese guy who shipped it along with a couple helicopters over to China. For some reason they were all sent back. The box containing the logs and plans was lost somewhere along that journey. I'm sure there are other parts also lost on the trip, I know the exhaust is not there. I can't really do much of an inventory without plans.

I certainly don't think I'll be done in a month haha. I haven't even started to dig into it yet. Not till I get the plans and know exactly what I'm looking at. There are 2 or 3 completed planes at the airport a couple miles from my office where I'll be building it. So I plan on getting some expert eyes on it very soon as well.

Thanks for all the input - Keep it coming!