sonex kit ???

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does anyone know much about these kits... claiming 147kts at 8000ft cruise with a jab 3300....cost for kit is about 13900usd (15800aud) roughly

 

http://www.sonexaircraft.com/aircraft/sonex.html

 

 

 

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just had another look at garry's website and im sorry to say the cheetah wins hands down .......and theres nothing like the security of buying local

 

 

[Ultralights]

i actually quite like the sonex! especially the Vtail version...

 

 

 

 

as much as i like the Cheetah, give me the Sonex any day!

 

 

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things i didnt like about the sonex ( i could be reading these wrong )

 

MTOW = 1100pnd = 500kg / small fuel tank at 16 usg = 60lt and with a jab 3300 thats less than 3 hrs but you do get another 20kg on the MTOW

 

im mainly putting this in here so i can be enlightened as to whether or not im reading this correctly

 

Ultralights with a plane like the vampire im not surprised you like the sonex

 

they both look very cool;)

 

 

[Thruster87]

I know two sonexs' are been built in the Wollongong area. If you are interested in talking with the syndicate let me know and I'll see what I can do Cheers

 

 

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I have just done a trip from Kilcoy to Ceduna and return in 27 hours flying time. Standard taildragger Sonex with a Jabiru 220 engine. I was originally on my way to Perth, but ran out of oil at Ceduna. I travelled light with only one litre spare thinking that because there was a BP Aviation refueller at Ceduna, they would have aircraft oil. WRONGGGG! Long story, which I will write about in the RAA Magazine sometime.

 

As for the litttle Sonex - it went great, considering that I picked about the worst possible heat wave to attempt the trip. 40 degrees on the ground everywhere I went. TAS was about 95 to 100 knots at a rock-steady 15 litres per hour in some terrible turbulence. Part of the reason for the TAS being a bit less than advertised was because I did not want to flog the engine in the heat, and part was probably due to the oversize wheels and tyres I fitted. 8 inch Asuza wheels running 480-400 x 8 boat trailer tyres. Of course the wheel spats had to go.

 

As pretty as it looks, I am not sure that the V tail would handle the turbulence and crosswinds encountered nearly as well as the straight tail did. Never a bad moment despite some impressive gusts and turbulence on several takeoffs and landings. Maybe the V tail would be OK in a nosewheel configuration, but then it wouldn't look as pretty and would lose a few knots over the taildragger.