Transporting a Onex to the airport?

[structurespilot]

Hello, I was wondering if anyone has a video of the process of: loading, trailering, and then unloading the Onex. The folding wings, and easy transportation, are often noted as good reason to choose the Onex, so how many people actually trailer their Onex to and from their residence, to the airport?
Here in Airdrie, (Alberta, Canada) outdoor grass parking spots go for $90 a month, so I can see where the trailer option has merit.

Regards, Norm

[daleandee]

Hi Norm,

The Sonex site states that for highway speeds the wings on the OneX are designed to be removed. Leaving the wings in place would require either an open trailer or a 7' door opening on an enclosed trailer. They state:

"The folding-wing design can fit into a standard 7’ garage door, and the wing panels can easily be removed for trailering at highway speeds."

More information here:

http://www.sonexaircraft.com/research/onex.html

Personally I like the wing fold design of the Panther Aircraft better than the OneX method:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... Tb8uiacKsk

I know this don't answer your specific question but I hope it helps ...

Dale Williams
N319WF @ 6J2
Myunn - "daughter of Cleanex"
120 HP - 3.0 Corvair
Tail Wheel - Center Stick
22:30 hours - Phase One
Status - Flying

[structurespilot]

Thanks for the response Dale. I do like the Panther folding mechanism, but both systems have merit.
I think if a person put their mind too it you could come up with a modified flat deck trailer with some wind protection for the wings. Another solution would be driving slower, if you don't have to go on the hwy.
I know that Dan has plans for a "Cougar" two place folding wing aircraft, but it would be cool to see Sonex make the Onex in a two seat tandem configuration. But that's another topic all together.

Norm

[nwyooper]

[youtube][/youtube]http://m.youtube.com/channel/UCiREJJVRHZ0jnskB9bwINSw

[BK9977]

Just watched that video. What a pain in the A%#... I honestly don't see the benefit to folding wings for transport. I can see the benefit for being able to stuff a couple of them into a hangar, but transporting it back and forth every time seems crazy to me. Not to mention the weight penalty for the bulk of the fold mechanism. No thanks. It is a lot easier to open the hangar door, roll it out, hop in and fire the motor up. none of this loading and unloading, folding and unfolding, etc...

[Rynoth]

Don't think anyone will argue that having a hangar isn't easier, but not everyone wants to pay rent.

[Mike53]

Granted I thought the walking back and forth to raise the tail end was a bit much,but nothing that couldn't be much, improved upon .The Onex is the perfect answer to those of us that can't afford $3000+ per year for hanger space(10 years $30,000 or the price of another Onex ).As to the folding and unfolding of wings, I estimate less than 40 seconds so that is a non issue.
Affordability is the key to General aviations future and designs like the Onex and the Panther are one way of achieving that.
Cheers,
Mike

[BK9977]

First, I have a really nice hangar that I dont even pay half of 3K a year, and I am on an expensive rent field, and one of the higher priced hangars there. The field I want to be at is less than a grand a year, tie down spots are really low cost...

As for transporting it. I still say it is not going to take off like everyone thinks. Having to load, then drive to the airport, try to find access (around here anything with a decent runway is fenced and gated) then you have to find somewhere to park the trailer at the airport that is out of the way, then unload, then preflight and fly. Land, fold everything up, re-load and drive back home and then if you want it in the garage out of the weather unload again...Not to mention if you need the extended tips it won't even fit in a std garage anyway. Plus you have to worry about dings from rocks and other road debris. Up here in Wisconsin no way I would take it on an open trailer with all the salt spraying up off the road in the winter months. We have salt from Nov until March. So that would eliminate 4-5 months of flying...Also you cant haul it at highway speeds on an open trailer. I guess if you want to make a custom enclosed trailer that it will fit in to avoid those problems it is going to cost a lot, I will stick with the sonex and a hangar.

[Rynoth]

BK9977. I think you've done a good job of ruling out your options of trailering a sonex/onex. I just want to say that, for myself, it's still a viable consideration, especially since the lowest hangar/covered space rent at an airport for me within 50 miles of my home is no less than $300/month.

I specifically bought a Waiex because it will fit in an enclosed trailer, giving me the option to hangar my plane wherever I need to, in its trailer. Whether this is the solution I choose is yet to be determined (I'm still building), but I'm keeping my options open.

[Bryan Cotton]

I used to live in CT. Had no hope there of having an affordable hangar. Figured I would build a trailer for my hummelbird, or perhaps find somebody who would let me park under the wing of their Cessna. My buddies in FL pay ungodly rates for their hangars too. Having lived in upstate NY and now Illinois, just south of Wisconsin, I have been lucky to have had cheap hangar rent. But I recognize that not everybody in every part of the country is that lucky. If trailering works for somebody, then it works. Glider guys do it all the time.