Higher gross weight limit for Sonex & Waiex

[wannabeYXbuilder]

I’ve been a long time reader on the forum but this is my first post. I’m curious what the Sonex community reaction is to the recent announcement from Sonex of the increase to 1220lbs gross weight for any A or B model Sonex or Waiex with at least 100hp. There’s a nice interview on the Experimental Aircraft Channel, https://youtu.be/oeEAIp_Otvw?si=Tn_ZTFYvjzOvK1oT

[Bryan Cotton]

Welcome to the forum! There has been some discussion already. What's not to like? I do believe it is better to use the gross weight increase for carrying fuel, bags, and people rather than porking out the empty weight. Light aircraft perform better in general.

[wannabeYXbuilder]

As my handle implies I have not yet started building anything except in my head. I have been thinking of targeting a 650lb empty weight but even with that you would have a hard time filling both seats, full fuel and baggage unless you had two very light occupants, under the original gross weight. Are there other threads on the topic on the forum?

[Bryan Cotton]

To get the gross weight increase, you need 100+ HP. At 650 lbs empty weight your useful load would be very good by Sonex standards. What engine do you like?

[wannabeYXbuilder]

I like the UL Power 350 for the power, fuel injection (no carb icing), FADEC control (single lever operation) and relatively low weight. An alternative would be the latest version of the Jabiru 3300 (Gen IV I think) which seems to have most of the bugs worked out compared to the early versions.

[Dave Wolfe]

Whats your mission (edit:) for the airplane?

[wannabeYXbuilder]

As far as what I would intend on using the plane for it would be for day, VFR only, local $100 burgers, weekend trips to the beach, local fly-ins, occasional cross country. I would like to build a safe, low cost, light weight, efficient plane with some basic creature comforts.

[Dave Wolfe]

The sonex checks most of those boxes.

The big engines made me think fast cross country are your main goal. The light wing loading and small tank limit its cross country capability somewhat unless you are trying to stay within the light sport pilot limitations.

[Skippydiesel]

"The light wing loading and small tank limit its cross country capability somewhat unless you are trying to stay within the light sport pilot limitations."

Or fit extra capacity for extended duration.

[Skippydiesel]

"The light wing loading and small tank limit its cross country capability somewhat unless you are trying to stay within the light sport pilot limitations."

Or fit extra capacity for extended duration.