| Sonex | |
|---|---|
 | |
| General information | |
| Type | Kit Aircraft |
| Manufacturer | Sonex Aircraft |
| Designer | John Monnett |
| Primary user | Private Owners |
| Number built | 311 (Sonex, Dec 2011) 1 (Onex, Dec 2011) 33 (Waiex, Dec 2011) 7 (Xenos, Dec 2011)[1] |
| History | |
| Variants | Sonex Aircraft Onex Sonex Aircraft Xenos |
The Onex, Sonex, Waiex and Xenos are a family of lightweight, metal, low-wing, two seat homebuilt aircraft. Kits are produced and marketed by Sonex Aircraft, a small manufacturer based in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. By 2014, 500 customer built aircraft had been completed.[2] The Sonex can also be built from plans.[1][3][4]
Company founder John Monnett was approached by an Italian business looking for an aircraft that would meet their Microlight category. A variation of Sonerai was initially proposed to meet the 40 mph minimum flight speed requirement. Eventually a clean-sheet design was built around a Jabiru or VW engine installation with similar all-aluminum box fuselage construction as the Monnett Moni.[5] The Sonex can accept various lightweight – less than 200 lb (91 kg) – engines of between 80 and 130 hp (60 and 97 kW).[6][7]
The Sonex, Waiex and Xenos all qualify as American experimental light-sport aircraft (ELSA).[8]
- ^ a b Vandermeullen, Richard: 2011 Kit Aircraft Buyer's Guide, Kitplanes, Volume 28, Number 12, December 2011, page 70. Belvoir Publications. ISSN 0891-1851
- ^ "Sonex reports 500th completion". Sport Aviation: 14. January 2015.
- ^ Downey, Julia: 2008 Kit Aircraft Directory, Kitplanes, Volume 24, Number 12, December 2007, page 72. Primedia Publications. ISSN 0891-1851
- ^ Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12, pages 119-120. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X
- ^ Jack Cox (Aug 1998). "The Sonex". Sport Aviation.
- ^ Tacke, Willi; Marino Boric; et al: World Directory of Light Aviation 2015-16, pages 81 & 126. Flying Pages Europe SARL, 2015. ISSN 1368-485X
- ^ "The Sonex-B Kit". sonexaircraft.com. 21 November 2015.
- ^ Experimental Aircraft Association (2010). "Experimental Light-Sport Aircraft (E-LSA)". Archived from the original on 10 August 2006. Retrieved 19 December 2010.