Unicorns Exist

[planeolbob]

Hi Everyone,

One of our members of VAA 16 has a late 1980's Super Vee conversion kit that has never been used. One of our members was going to put it on a WW1 scale fighter but used another engine. The kit has set in storage since 1988.
The Mag has never been used. It is a 4016 type mag (you can't get parts any more). Equivalent mags (4316)
are now listed for $1320 in Spruce. Note the S/N and the Monett casting marks. We would like to sell. Make an offer.

Here is a link to the photos

https://www.flickr.com/photos/planeolbo ... 0308221388

Bob (sold my Sonex) Mika

785 550 5002

[planeolbob]

Hi Everyone,
Below is a Flickr link to the photos of the last flight of Katie N178kt.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/planeolbo ... 0310966011

Katie is gone to her new home on the East Coast. Here are the photos of the cost of a very hard landing while checking out the new owner. Note that the gear flexed enough to crack both wheel pants when they hit the wing! She got a prop strike that took off about 1/4" of the tips. It must have been the same as I didn't notice any vibration or decrease in power. The gear legs were bent around 7 degrees each.

If you have "Flight Aware" you can watch our last flight. We were both shocked when we landed and saw the damage. The new owner has his work cut out.

The new owner says she will be at Oshkosh next year.

Guys, it has been a great 25 years as a member of the Sonex family. I will still be around lurking as I always have been. Jeff wants me to build a high wing with him.

We shall see........

Bob (no airplane) Mika

[mike.smith]

Yikes! Glad it was only metal and not bone that got hammered. We've enjoyed your participation, and living vicariously on your trips. I'm a year into building an RV-7, but still flying (for 9 years+) my Sonex, and will be for the next few years. I'll likely also still hang out on the forum even after completing the RV.

[Bryan Cotton]

Bob,
Sorry to see you move on, and bend your former airplane to boot. I appreciate all your contributions to our community!

[bvolcko38]

I am amazed by the amount the gear legs flexed and sprung back. I guess that's why Monnett went with titanium.

[mike.smith]

I am amazed by the amount the gear legs flexed and sprung back. I guess that's why Monnett went with titanium.

Last year (2022) when I landed at Airventure on 36 with a very stiff left cross wind (I'm a tail dragger), after touchdown the wind heeled the Sonex so far onto the right gear that I was sure the gear had collapsed! I was able to taxi off the runway, and was surprisingly able to taxi to parking. I took the cowl and the wheel pants off and could not find any damage or any permanent bend in the gear! I was amazed! Later I found out I had cupped the large washer that rested against the outside wheel bearing, but I fixed that with a new washer.

You can see all this in my video from last year:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lETXATl9mv8