Monnett Sonerai

Sonerai
Sonerai II
Role Homebuilt aircraft
Manufacturer Monett Aircraft
Designer John Monnett
First flight July 20, 1971
Introduction 1971

The Sonerai is a small, VW-powered homebuilt aircraft,[1] designed by John Monnett.[2] The Sonerai began to compete as a single-seat, mid-wing, tailwheel[3] Formula-V racer class formed in 1972. The Sonerai soon evolved into a two-seat model called the Sonerai II.[3][4]

Later versions included a low-wing Sonerai IIL,[3] a tricycle-gear Sonerai IILT[3] and finally the stretched Sonerai IILS and IILTS.[3][5]

John Monnett came up with the name Sonerai from a combination of the words Sonic and Cosmic-Ray.[6] Many Sonerais have been built and it remains a very popular design for people seeking a low-cost experimental aircraft with good speed and maneuverability. The airframe cost to build in 1974 was estimated at $2,500. The 2010 airframe cost is approximately $6,000 (US) and the total cost is approximately $15,000 (US) with the addition of hardware, instrumentation, engine and other required items. The time to build is between 800 and 1000 hours.[7]

  1. ^ "The Sonerai I," GreatPlainsAS.com / Sonerai Works, retrieved November 11, 2020
  2. ^ Plane and Pilot's Homebuilt Aircraft Annual. Winter 1975. {{cite journal}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  3. ^ a b c d e Cite error: The named reference soneraiworks_2014_12_10_kitplanes_com was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Tacke, Willi; Marino Boric; et al: World Directory of Light Aviation 2015-16, page 110. Flying Pages Europe SARL, 2015. ISSN 1368-485X
  5. ^ "The Sonerai II Stretch," GreatPlainsAS.com / Sonerai Works, retrieved November 11, 2020
  6. ^ Bob Barton (May 1991). "Bob Barton's Sonerai IIL". Sport Aviation.
  7. ^ "Sport Aircraft History". Great Plains Aircraft. Retrieved October 8, 2008.