The Sonerai soon evolved into a two-seat model called the Sonerai II. Later versions included a low wing Sonerai IIL, a tricycle gear Sonerai IILT and finally the stretched Sonerai IILS and IILTS. The Sonerai II Original is one of the most versatile two-place homebuilt airplanes ever conceived, and can be built in several versions. In its original form, the standard Sonerai II is a mid-wing, two-place tandem, tailwheel airplane that is flown from the rear seat solo. The Sonerai IIL is the same airplane but with a low wing. The IIL is especially popular with taller pilots, as the pilot’s legs go over the top of the main spar carry-thru structure, rather than under it. The Sonerai IILT is the same as the IIL except that it is built with a steerable nosewheel (“T” for tricycle). Many builders with limited taildragger experience opt for the tricycle gear. The Sonerai II will accept engine displacements from 1700cc thru 2180cc. The cockpit is 23-1/4” wide. The wing is composed of two panels that fold alongside the fuselage, enabling the airplane to be towed tail first on its own landing gear. The fuselage and tail surfaces are constructed of standard sizes of 4130 steel tubing, and are fabric covered. The wings are fabricated from 2024-T3 Alclad aluminum sheet, 0.025” thick for the ribs and skins, and 0.040” thick for the spar channels. Stainless steel flush Cherry N pulled rivets are used for wing skin attachment to simplify assembly. The fiberglass cowling removes easily to allow complete access to the engine, fuel tank, and instruments. The landing gear is a formed aluminum spring manufactured from 5/8” x 6” 2024-T351 bar stock, and uses 5” wheels and ¾” axles. A tapered rod tail spring is used for the tailwheel. All Sonerai II versions feature a 10 gallon main fuel tank with the option for a 6 gallon auxiliary tank. Variants Sonerai I Single-seat Formula V Racer Sonerai II Two-seat mid-wing Sonerai II-L Two-seat low-wing Sonerai II-LT Two-seat low-wing tricycle gear developed in 1983. Sonerai II-LS Two-seat low-wing stretch fuselage Sonerai II-LTS Two-seat low-wing stretch tricycle gear
