Sonex Aircraft: Difference between revisions

Sonex Aircraft, LLC
Company type	Private
Industry	Aerospace
Founded	1998
Founder	John Monnett
Headquarters	Oshkosh, Wisconsin, United States
Key people	Jeremy Monnett; (Former CEO); Mark Schaible; (CEO);
Number of employees	9
Subsidiaries	AeroConversions engines
Website	sonexaircraft.com

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Sonex Aircraft, LLC is an American kit aircraft manufacturer located in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, producing kits for four all-metal homebuilt monoplanes. The company was founded in 1998 by John Monnett, who has designed the Monnett Sonerai sport aircraft series, Monnett Monerai sailplane, Monnett Moni motorglider, and Monnett Monex racer.

History

The company opened a flight center and a 5,600 sq ft (520 m²) parts distribution warehouse in 2006.^[1]

In 2013, the FAA National Kit Evaluation Team (NKET) approved fast-build "51% rule" versions of the Sonex, Waiex, and Onex.^[2]

Jeremy Monnett, the son of founder John Monnett Jr. and CEO, was killed in an airplane crash in 2015.^[3]

In June 2018, John Monnett announced his plan to retire and sell the company.^[4] In January 2022, Sonex employee and general manager, Mark Schaible, purchased the assets of Sonex Aircraft LLC and Sonex Aerospace LLC, forming them into a new company, Sonex LLC. Schaible will be owner and president of the new company.^[5]

In December 2019 the John Monnett-designed Sonerai was acquired by Sonex Aircraft.^[6]

The company rolled out a prototype highwing aircraft in 2024.^[7]

Products

Aircraft

Model name	First flight	Number built	Type
Sonerai	1971		Single piston engine low-wing homebuilt airplane
Sonex	2000 (customer built)	500 by 2014^[8]	Single piston engine low-wing homebuilt airplane
Waiex	2003		Single piston engine low-wing homebuilt airplane
Xenos	2003		Single piston engine low-wing homebuilt motor glider
Onex	2011		Single piston engine low-wing homebuilt airplane
ESA			Unbuilt single electric engine low-wing homebuilt airplane
SubSonex JSX-1	2011		Single jet engine low-wing homebuilt airplane
SubSonex JSX-2	2014		Single jet engine low-wing homebuilt airplane
Teros	2015		Single piston engine low-wing unmanned aerial vehicle
Sierra Hotel			Single piston engine high-wing homebuilt airplane^[9]

Engines

Company subsidiary AeroConversions manufactures the AeroConversions AeroVee Engine, a custom aircraft implementation of the Volkswagen air-cooled engine.

Hornet's Nest

The Hornet's Nest is the research and development arm of Sonex LLC.

E-flight

At AirVenture 2007, Sonex Aircraft announced a project to work on innovative technologies in aviation. The E-flight projects includes using an electric motor, ethanol-based fuels, and other power plant alternatives.^[10] In December 2010, an all-electric Waiex was test flown from Wittman field in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. The aircraft was flown with a 54 kW (72 hp) brushless DC electric motor, managed by a newly designed controller. Power is from a collection of 14.5 kW-hour lithium polymer batteries, giving the aircraft an endurance of one hour at low-speed cruise or 15 minutes of aerobatics.^[11]^[12] This was the beginning of the development of the Sonex Electric Sport Aircraft.^[13]

References

^ "Sonex Aircraft News Archive January-February, 2007". Sonex. January–February 2007. Retrieved July 29, 2024.
^ "Sonex Offers Quick-Build Kits Featuring Prebuilt Major Assemblies". Retrieved July 22, 2013.
^ Sonex CEO Jeremy Monnett Killed in Aircraft Accident AOPA, June 2015
^ O'Connor, Kate (June 6, 2018). "Sonex For Sale". AVweb. Retrieved June 8, 2018.
^ Phelps, Mark (January 4, 2022). "Longtime Employee Acquires Sonex Assets; All Staff Retained". AVweb. Archived from the original on January 5, 2022. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
^ Cook, Marc (December 30, 2019). "Sonerai Kit Aircraft Comes Home". AVweb. Archived from the original on January 2, 2020. Retrieved December 15, 2019.
^ Fores, Kerry (July 21, 2024). "Sonex Rolls Out Highwing Protoype". Kitplanes. Retrieved July 29, 2024.
^ "Sonex reports 500th completion". Sport Aviation: 14. January 2015.
^ Cook, Marc (February 16, 2023). "Sonex Introduces "Sierra Hotel" Highwing". AVweb. Archived from the original on February 17, 2023. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
^ "Another Secret Is Out". Retrieved July 24, 2007.
^ "Sonex electric-powered Waiex makes first flight". Retrieved December 6, 2010.
^ Pew, Glenn (December 2010). "Sonex Flies Electric Airplane". AvWeb. Retrieved December 6, 2010.
^ "Sonex Aircraft Hornet's Nest Research and Development". Retrieved October 21, 2011.

External links

Official website

[1] "Sonex Aircraft News Archive January-February, 2007". Sonex. January–February 2007. Retrieved July 29, 2024.

[2] "Sonex Offers Quick-Build Kits Featuring Prebuilt Major Assemblies". Retrieved July 22, 2013.

[3] Sonex CEO Jeremy Monnett Killed in Aircraft Accident AOPA, June 2015

[O'Connor06Jun18-4] O'Connor, Kate (June 6, 2018). "Sonex For Sale". AVweb. Retrieved June 8, 2018.

[Phelps04Jan21-5] Phelps, Mark (January 4, 2022). "Longtime Employee Acquires Sonex Assets; All Staff Retained". AVweb. Archived from the original on January 5, 2022. Retrieved January 5, 2022.

[Cook30Dec19-6] Cook, Marc (December 30, 2019). "Sonerai Kit Aircraft Comes Home". AVweb. Archived from the original on January 2, 2020. Retrieved December 15, 2019.

[7] Fores, Kerry (July 21, 2024). "Sonex Rolls Out Highwing Protoype". Kitplanes. Retrieved July 29, 2024.

[8] "Sonex reports 500th completion". Sport Aviation: 14. January 2015.

[Cook16Feb23-9] Cook, Marc (February 16, 2023). "Sonex Introduces "Sierra Hotel" Highwing". AVweb. Archived from the original on February 17, 2023. Retrieved February 17, 2023.

[10] "Another Secret Is Out". Retrieved July 24, 2007.

[11] "Sonex electric-powered Waiex makes first flight". Retrieved December 6, 2010.

[AvWeb-12] Pew, Glenn (December 2010). "Sonex Flies Electric Airplane". AvWeb. Retrieved December 6, 2010.

[Hornets_Nest_ESA-13] "Sonex Aircraft Hornet's Nest Research and Development". Retrieved October 21, 2011.

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@@ Line 13: / Line 13: @@
 | key_people       = {{Unbulleted list|Jeremy Monnett<br />{{small|(Former CEO)}}|Mark Schaible<br />{{small|(CEO)}}}}
 | industry         = [[Aerospace]]
-| products         = [[Homebuilt aircraft]]
+| products         =
 | revenue          =
 | operating_income =
@@ Line 28: / Line 28: @@
 ==History==
+[[File:19-5409 Monnett Sonerai IILS (8543451673).jpg|thumb| [[Sonerai]] IILS]]
 The company opened a flight center and a {{convert|5,600|sqft|m2|abbr=on}} parts distribution warehouse in 2006.<ref>{{cite web |title=Sonex Aircraft News Archive January-February, 2007 |url=http://www.sonexaircraft.com/news/newsarchive72.html |website=Sonex |access-date=29 July 2024 |date=January–February 2007}}</ref>
@@ Line 42: / Line 44: @@
 ==Products==
 ===Aircraft===
-[[File:SonexN232TM01.jpg|thumb|[[Sonex Aircraft Sonex]] at the company display at [[Sun 'n Fun]], 2004]]
-[[File:19-5409 Monnett Sonerai IILS (8543451673).jpg|thumb| [[Sonerai]] IILS]]
 [[File:Sub Sonex JSX-1.jpg|thumb|[[Sonex Aircraft SubSonex|Sub Sonex JSX-1]]]]
 [[File:Sonex-Onex.jpg|thumb|Sonex Onex]]
@@ Line 58: / Line 58: @@
 |align=center| 1971
 |align=center|
-|align=left| family of single and two-seat aircraft
+|align=left| Single piston engine low-wing homebuilt airplane
 |-
 |align=left| [[Sonex Aircraft Sonex|Sonex]]
 |align=center| 2000 (customer built)
 |align=center| 500 by 2014<ref>{{cite journal|journal=Sport Aviation|date=January 2015|page=14|title=Sonex reports 500th completion}}</ref>
+|align=left| Single piston engine low-wing homebuilt airplane
-|align=left| the original aircraft design, incorporating a low-wing design, seats two, and has a fast build time.<ref name="Sonex">{{cite web|url = http://www.sonexaircraft.com/aircraft/sonex.html|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20051125071904/http://www.sonexaircraft.com/aircraft/sonex.html|url-status = dead|archive-date = November 25, 2005|title = Sonex - the Original Reality Check|access-date = October 9, 2008|last = Sonex Aircraft|year = 2008}}</ref>
 |-
 |align=left| [[Sonex Aircraft Sonex|Waiex]]
 |align=center| 2003
 |align=center|
+|align=left| Single piston engine low-wing homebuilt airplane
-|align=left| almost identical to the Sonex, but features a Y-tail.<ref name="Waiex">{{cite web|url = http://www.sonexaircraft.com/aircraft/waiex.html|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060405030020/http://www.sonexaircraft.com/aircraft/waiex.html|url-status = dead|archive-date = April 5, 2006|title = Specifications - Tail Configuration: Y-tail|access-date = January 6, 2010|last = Sonex Aircraft|year = 2010}}</ref>
 |-
 |align=left| [[Sonex Xenos|Xenos]]
 |align=center| 2003
 |align=center|
+|align=left| Single piston engine low-wing homebuilt motor glider
-|align=left| a motor-glider development of the Waiex with longer wings and the  same engine selection as the other two Sonex models.<ref name="Xenos">{{cite web|url = http://www.sonexaircraft.com/aircraft/xenos.html|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060405025949/http://www.sonexaircraft.com/aircraft/xenos.html|url-status = dead|archive-date = April 5, 2006|title = Xenos|access-date = October 9, 2008|last = Sonex Aircraft|year = 2008}}</ref>
 |-
 |align=left| [[Sonex Aircraft Onex|Onex]]
 |align=center| 2011
 |align=center|
+|align=left| Single piston engine low-wing homebuilt airplane
-|align=left| a single seat aircraft with similar construction to a Sonex that will feature folding wings that allow the aircraft to be stored in a standard garage.<ref>[http://www.sonexaircraft.com/research/updates/onex/onex_update_061810.html Onex]</ref>
 |-
 |align=left| [[Sonex Electric Sport Aircraft|ESA]]
 |align=center|
 |align=center|
+|align=left| Unbuilt single electric engine low-wing homebuilt airplane
-|align=left| the Electric Sport Aircraft is a modified [[Sonex Aircraft Xenos|Xenos]].<ref>[http://www.sonexaircraft.com/research/e-flight.html E-Flight ESA]</ref>
 |-
 |align=left| [[Sonex Aircraft SubSonex|SubSonex JSX-1]]
 |align=center| 2011
 |align=center|
-|align=left| Single seat, single engine jet prototype
+|align=left| Single jet engine low-wing homebuilt airplane
 |-
 |align=left| [[Sonex Aircraft SubSonex|SubSonex JSX-2]]
 |align=center| 2014
 |align=center|
-|align=left| Single seat, single engine jet
+|align=left| Single jet engine low-wing homebuilt airplane
 |-
 |align=left| [[Sonex Aircraft Teros|Teros]]
 |align=center| 2015
 |align=center|
+|align=left| Single piston engine low-wing unmanned aerial vehicle
-|align=left| UAV<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.unmannedsystemstechnology.com/2015/05/sonex-aircraft-navmar-applied-sciences-collaborate-uav-design/|access-date=June 26, 2015|title=Sonex Aircraft and Navmar Applied Sciences to Collaborate on UAV Design|date=May 2015 }}</ref>
 |-
 |align=left| [[Sonex Highwing|Sierra Hotel]]
-|align=center| 2023
 |align=center|
+|align=center|
-|align=left| Two seat [[high-wing]] kit aircraft under development.<ref name="Cook16Feb23">{{cite web|url= https://www.avweb.com/aviation-news/sonex-introduces-sierra-hotel-highwing/|title= Sonex Introduces "Sierra Hotel" Highwing|access-date= 17 February 2023|last= Cook|first= Marc |work= AVweb|date= 16 February 2023|archive-url= https://archive.today/20230217141118/https://www.avweb.com/aviation-news/sonex-introduces-sierra-hotel-highwing/|archive-date= 17 February 2023|url-status= live}}</ref>
+|align=left| Single piston engine high-wing homebuilt airplane<ref name="Cook16Feb23">{{cite web|url= https://www.avweb.com/aviation-news/sonex-introduces-sierra-hotel-highwing/|title= Sonex Introduces "Sierra Hotel" Highwing|access-date= 17 February 2023|last= Cook|first= Marc |work= AVweb|date= 16 February 2023|archive-url= https://archive.today/20230217141118/https://www.avweb.com/aviation-news/sonex-introduces-sierra-hotel-highwing/|archive-date= 17 February 2023|url-status= live}}</ref>
 |}
@@ Line 110: / Line 110: @@
 ==Hornet's Nest==
+[[File:Sonex Aircraft Sonex (G-CIDX) at Cotswold Airport England 18Jun2016 arp.jpg|thumb|Sonex at [[Cotswold Airport]], [[Gloucestershire]], [[England]],  2016]]
 The Hornet's Nest is the research and development arm of Sonex LLC.
@@ Line 118: / Line 120: @@
 |access-date = July 24, 2007
 }}</ref> In December 2010, an all-electric Waiex was test flown from Wittman field in [[Oshkosh, Wisconsin]]. The aircraft was flown with a {{convert|54|kW|hp|0|abbr=on}} brushless DC electric motor, managed by a newly designed controller. Power is from a collection of 14.5&nbsp;kW-hour lithium polymer batteries, giving the aircraft an endurance of one hour at low-speed cruise or 15 minutes of aerobatics.<ref>{{cite web|title=Sonex electric-powered Waiex makes first flight|url=http://www.aopa.org/aircraft/articles/2010/101206sonex.html|access-date= December 6, 2010}}</ref><ref name="AvWeb">{{Cite news|url = http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/sonex_waiex_electric_motor_aircraft_first_flight_203741-1.html|title = Sonex Flies Electric Airplane|access-date = December 6, 2010|last = Pew|first = Glenn|date=December 2010| work = AvWeb}}</ref>  This was the beginning of the development of the [[Sonex Electric Sport Aircraft]].<ref name="Hornets_Nest_ESA">{{cite web|url = http://www.sonexaircraft.com/research/e-flight.html|title = Sonex Aircraft Hornet's Nest Research and Development|access-date = October 21, 2011}}</ref>
-[[File:Sonex Aircraft Sonex (G-CIDX) at Cotswold Airport England 18Jun2016 arp.jpg|thumb|Sonex at [[Cotswold Airport]], [[Gloucestershire]], [[England]],  2016]]
 ==References==