Sonex #1655 now airborne

[Rynoth]

Congrats Jason!

[Onex107]

You have just joined an exclusive group of people. How often have you read about the aviators that broke the sound barrier. I'll bet they never experienced the same thing you did. The average pilot today never had to be a test pilot in an airplane they constructed. Pin a medal on yourself..

[Fastcapy]

Congrats! All the certified world guys talk about how they remember their first solo, I tell them it doesn't even come close to the awe of flying a plane you built for the very first time! At least in my book.

a 3.5 hour transition training course in an RV-12 with Dennis Carew at Plane Guys Aviation in Waupaca, WI.

I use Plane Guys for my flight reviews and also did my tailwheel endorsement with them in their Rans S7 since they are close by. Great place and good rates, especially for aircraft that are not all beat up like some places.

[andrewp]

Boo ya!

Well done sir.

[Darick]

Jason congratulations!
Good to hear about your training as I've just completed similar flights and will be flying in the next weeks.

[racaldwell]

Great news, Jason. What a feeling that is.

In your opinion from using the RV 12 as transition training, do you believe I need to make an effort to find Sonex time since I fly my RV-6 every week for the past 17 yrs? (960 hrs. TT)

If Sonex transition was available, I'd go for it.

Rick
Xenos 0057 still a long way to go.
Melbourne, FL

[Direct C51]

Rick, I know you didn't direct your question to me, but I'll offer my opinion. The need for transition training comes from the Sonex having light control forces. Going from a 172 to a Sonex is a lot different. Going from an RV6 to a Sonex will be very familiar. I didn't fly an airplane for over 3 years, did 1 hour in a Cessna 120, then flew my Sonex for the first time. However I fly a helicopter for work, with very light control forces. The Sonex wasn't a problem at all.

[n502pd]

My congrats on being airborne! I do know how that feels! have fun!

[Onex107]

Pin a medal on your chest. Even our speed of sound hero's haven't experienced what you just did.

[jaflint]

Thanks, all, for your kind words. I'm up through 12 hours at this point, using the XP3 program of flight test cards to do my testing -- having a ball, except for the shrinking daylight!

Rick: The few hours I put in with the RV-12 were very helpful and probably the perfect last flights before first flight in my Sonex. Same empty weight (mine is heavy, with the Corvair), and a slick low wing bird. That said, I have no time in non-light sport eligible planes other than the hour or so I spent spinning and rolling in a Decathlon. In my opinion, having recent time in a handful of different planes was a huge help.

And considering you're building a Xenos -- I have no idea how that might compare to any of the Van's line. But I can't imagine any amount of time in an RV-6 would hurt.

JF