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]