Flying Stories – Sonex Aircraft

What if David Attenborough Meets a Waiex?

waiex29 — Fri, 08 Dec 2023 18:26:54 +0000

“Hope you enjoy this fun side of building a Sonex,” is the closing slide of this new video made by Australian Waiex-B builder Andy Gaunt, and that says it all. What is a homebuilt aircraft project supposed to be if not fun? Builders of Sonex kits are having fun in many different forms, keeping the true spirit and intent of amateur building intact.

You can see more ways in which Sonex builders and pilots are having fun on our Sonex Flying Stories Page!

Learn More About the Waiex-B!

Kitplanes eXenos Series: First Flight!

waiex29 — Fri, 27 Oct 2023 22:16:52 +0000

Another installment in Paul Dye’s series of Kitplanes Magazine articles about his electric-powered eXenos is now available: Read the Article!

This series covers the installation of FLIT LLC’s Zaero electric propulsion package in Paul and Louise’s Xenos Motorglider. Paul first flew Xenos serial number X0061 on April 8th, and has written a series of feature articles for Kitplanes Magazine about the Zaero electric package installation, his being the first customer installation to be completed and flown.

The latest installment of Paul’s feature story series covers his eXenos first flight and includes more great information about the Zaero installation along with some great tips for the first flight of any homebuilt aircraft.

Learn More About the Xenos Motorglider!

See the Entire eXenos Series of Articles from Kitplanes Magazine

Cross-Country to T25 in my Sonex: Robbie Culver

waiex29 — Thu, 26 Oct 2023 20:43:08 +0000

Sonex builder Robbie Culver (Sonex 1517) and his wife Brenda, both pilots, have decided fulfill their lifelong dream of airpark living. A talented writer and photographer, Robbie decided to document his Sonex relocation to Aero Estates Airport for Air Facts Journal to share this enjoyable, though weather affected trip to his family’s new Texas dream home. Read the Article!

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Learn More About the Sonex!

…and, here’s the video of Brenda’s arrival in her 1945 Champ!

New Addition to the SubSonex Airshow Fleet: Torrey Ward

waiex29 — Mon, 23 Oct 2023 22:19:58 +0000

Sonex is pleased to announce that another SubSonex owner has hit the airshow circuit in his microjet! Torrey Ward, owner of SubSonex JSX0019, can now be added to the list of pilots flying the SubSonex Personal Jet in airshows. He joins the ranks of Tom Larkin who currently flies an extensive schedule of shows each year, and Bob Carlton who earned the 2017 Art Scholl award the 2015 Bill Barber award thanks in-part to his shows with the SubSonex.

Learn more about Torrey Ward and his SubSonex airshow on his web site: microjetairshow.com

Learn More About the SubSonex!

Chicken Soup for the Homebuilder’s Soul

waiex29 — Fri, 22 Sep 2023 15:02:46 +0000

There’s no question that peer support in homebuilding is vital in many respects: camraderie, motivation and technical advice just to name a few. EAA is founded on the networking of homebuilders via its chapters and through programs like EAA Technical Counselors and Flight Advisors. It can be even more beneficial when builders of similar types can network, and in the modern age, type club newsletters have been replaced with online forums and social networking for instant gratification — sometimes good, sometimes not so much.

Sometimes builders of similar type aircraft find themselves geographically concentrated, and when that happens, the build process can be even more rewarding. That’s the case with Bill Batten (WXB0067) and James Yrineo (SNB0039). As Bill writes in an article for EAA’s web site, the two share a hangar where they work on their Sonex projects side-by-side and get together regularly with other area Sonex builders.

“So, we have a bit of a phenomenon occurring here in Columbus, Indiana — the Southern Indiana Sonex Builders,” writes Bill. “I don’t know which aspect of this is better — all building similar experimental aircraft, or the camaraderie that has developed. Either way, I will never forget the summer of 2023 and I’m grateful for the new friendships.”

Read the Full Article at inspire.eaa.org!

Find Builders and Pilots via the Sonex Builder Database!

Maintain Your Sonex Builder Database Listing

Find Sonex Builder Organizations and Events!

Builder News: Lou Toth’s Sonex Sets NAA Record!

waiex29 — Sat, 16 Sep 2023 14:00:57 +0000

Congratulations to Sonex builder Lou Toth who set a National Aeronautics Association (NAA) Speed Over a Recognized Course record in his AeroVee powered, tricycle gear Sonex, “Dreamcicle.” The record was set in Class R for Microlights per European standards. Lou set the record along with Ben Poffenberger on March 31st, flying from Pensacola, Florida to Pascagoula, Mississippi.

The record was set at an average speed of 110.58 mph between Pensacola and Pascagoula, and an average speed of 107.13 mph on the return trip. “Of course these are average speeds,” writes Lou, “We did fly the final descent into Pensacola at 147 kts (about 169 mph) so the controllers could squeeze us in-between the airliners and other traffic, great fun.”

“I know our record is only a National Record, and not a FAI recognized record,” continues Lou, “but it is interesting to note that the NAA website for Speed Over a Recognized Course starts in 1935 with Gaston Gentin & Andre Robert flying from Paris to Antananarivo at a speed of 94.39 mph, In a Caudron C.635; the first continental US flight in a B-52 in 1962 by Clyde Evely and crew from Seattle to Fort Worth at 552.5 mph; and the first US Microlight record in 1993 by Joseph Clinard from Centerville, Tennessee to Little Rock, Arkansas in a Quicksilver MX at 38.58 mph.”

“The records by Ben and I may be the first dual crew US National Records, only the second US record in almost thirty years, and if Mr. Clinard did not build his Quicksilver, the first crew built Microlight to set a US record. I know the Europeans and other countries have many more records in the Microlight & Paramotor classes, but our hope is that our ‘Hundred Dollar Hamburger’ record inspires others in this class to stand out with the more than 4600 [available] Speed Over a Recognized Course records!”

Lou will be accepting his record certifiates during the opening ceremony at the 117th FAI General Conference being held October 25-28 in Dayton, Ohio.

Search for Records That You Can Claim in a Sonex Aircraft!

Growing-Up with Sonex: Adam Cotton

waiex29 — Mon, 11 Sep 2023 16:50:38 +0000

A lot of youngsters have been involved with Sonex projects through the years, whether they be paticipants in a school or EAA chapter project, or kids and parents building a Sonex aircraft together. For Adam Cotton of Poplar Grove Illinois, the latter is true. Adam and his dad Bryan started building Waiex W0191 together when Adam was about 12 years old and the staff at Sonex has been watching Adam grow-up with the father and son team’s Waiex for the past 10 years. Sonex aircraft are great projects to include kids, even when attention span gets a bit short as the video below shows.

Today, we congratulate Adam for finishing his pilot’s license on September 2nd and soloing the aircraft that he and his dad built together, Waiex W0191, for the first time on Labor Day!

Learn More About the Waiex!

See More Sonex Flying Stories!

Every Parent Should Buy Their Kid a Sonex Kit!

waiex29 — Fri, 23 Sep 2022 22:32:06 +0000

One of our greatest delights at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2022 was getting to meet 10 year-old Katherine Perkins. Katherine came to our exhibit booth in the Homebuilt Display Area with her sister and parents and immediately fell in-love with Waiex B-Model prototype Red One. After watching the One Week Wonder’s construction in-process at show center and pulling a rivet in the aircraft, then coming back the next day to pull another rivet in the One Week Wonder (is that allowed?), Katherine’s mind was made: She wanted to build one!

Coming from an aviation background themselves, Katherine’s parents decided to let her do it, and to make a YouTube channel about the build. Please like, subscribe and share Katherine’s channel, “Little Dreamers’ Adventures,” and help us to cheer her on in building her Sonex!

The First Thousand Hours: Waiex W0082

waiex29 — Mon, 25 Apr 2022 21:43:42 +0000

Congratulations to Kip Laurie, builder and owner of Waiex W0082 who recently surpassed 1,000 hours on his aircraft! The orange and white Jabiru 3300 powered taildragger has become extremely well-known in the Sonex community both for the quality of the build as-well as the quality of the builder’s personality. In his post to the SonexBuilders.net forum regarding this milestone, Kip gives a brief review of the aircraft’s maintenance history along with some very impressive statistics. Some of the highlights:

Total Miles (GPS odometer): 111,585 statute miles
Total Landings: 1359
326 different airports visited followed by a "list of where I’ve been" that reads like an exhaustive directory of worthwhile places to fly.
Perhaps most impressive: Kip has shared the Sonex experience with 117 passengers.

Kip first began flying W0082 on May 20, 2010 and the past 12 years of frequent flying is a real testament to the robust qualities of our aircraft when properly built and maintained. Thank you Kip for being such an outstanding ambassador to the Sonex community!

If you have your own positive Sonex experiences to share, be sure to tell us about them via the Contact Form on our web site.

Read Kip Laurie’s Full Post

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See Customer Videos on Our YouTube Channel

Sonex Flying Stories: Want to Afford a Sonex? Quit Smoking!

waiex29 — Mon, 11 Nov 2019 23:16:03 +0000

Sonex Builder Richard Young (Sonex SN: 1566) gives a fun and entertaining comparison of the cost of sport flying vs. other habits in your life.

See More Sonex Flying Stories!