Xenos Press – Sonex Aircraft https://www.sonexaircraft.com The Sport Aircraft Reality Check! Fri, 27 Oct 2023 22:28:56 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.3 https://www.sonexaircraft.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/cropped-gold_wings_3937-32x32.jpg Xenos Press – Sonex Aircraft https://www.sonexaircraft.com 32 32 145799239 Kitplanes eXenos Series: First Flight! https://www.sonexaircraft.com/kitplanes-exenos-series-first-flight/ Fri, 27 Oct 2023 22:16:52 +0000 https://www.sonexaircraft.com/?p=22036 Read More]]> 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

]]> 22036 First Flights: Paul Dye Flies His Electric Xenos! https://www.sonexaircraft.com/first-flight-paul-dye-exenos/ Sat, 08 Apr 2023 23:10:44 +0000 https://www.sonexaircraft.com/?p=21577 Read More]]> Congratulations to Paul Dye and Louise Hose of Kitplanes Magazine who flew their eXenos (S/N X0061) with Zaero Elecric Propulsion for the first time today! The aircraft uses the Zaero Electric Propulsion system pioneered by Gabriel DeVault and supported by both Sonex and DeVault. Paul made two flights today from his home airpark in Dayton, Nevada.

Paul writes:

To quote Howard Hughes in the movie The Rocketeer… ”The son of a b**** will fly!”

The stars finally aligned with the weather (and schedules) in western Nevada on the morning of April 8th, and the Dye/Hose eXenos took to the air for its first and second flights from Dayton Valley Airpark. Paul Dye flew both flights using the EAA Test Card #2 (suitably modified for an electric powerplant) and found the airplane to fly fine, with only a slightly heavy left wing and a stall speed right on the book value of 38 knots. The electric power system devised by Gabe DeVault worked flawlessly and Paul was able to manage temperatures of the motor, controller and battery to complete all the flight test objectives on the card. While the motor warms up quickly during takeoff and initial climb, the temperature are easily managed while maintaining a respectable positive rate of climb to pattern altitude.

You can read more about the Dye/Hose eXenos first flight on the Kitplanes Magazine web site!

Congratulations Paul and Louise, Gold Wings are on the way!

Learn More About the Xenos Motorglider!

Learn More about the Xenos Zaero Electric Propulsion Installation!

View the Latest Sonex Aircraft Completions

]]> 21577 Electric Xenos Motor/Battery Mounts Now Available to Order! https://www.sonexaircraft.com/xenos-electric-mounts/ Wed, 24 Aug 2022 17:14:21 +0000 https://www.sonexaircraft.com/?p=20614 Read More]]> Sonex is pleased to announce that motor/battery mounts are now available to order for the Xenos Motorglider Zaero Electric Propulsion package!

Zaero Mounts for Xenos Motorglider


Zaero Electric Motor/Battery Mounts:
Order Now!
Estimated Lead Time:
12 weeks from order

Install a Zero motorcycle electric motor and battery system to power your Legacy or B-Model Xenos Motorglider with support form FLIT LLC.

Developed by Gabriel DeVault, the installation uses the standard Sonex cowlings and AeroVee Spinner with Sensenich Propeller. One of the original developers of the Zero Motorcycle, Gabe has been experimenting with electric powered aircraft for years. Most recently, Gabe installed the Zero-derived “Zaero” propulsion package in a Xenos Motorglider, which was featured on the cover of Kitplanes Magazine.

Gabe’s Zaero powered Xenos installation, consisting of a Zero Motorcyle fully-electric drivetrain and battery system modified by Gabe for aircraft use, is touted by Kitplanes as the first truly-practical and affordable electric-powered homebuilt aircraft and we agree! The Zaero powered Xenos “can carry two full-size adults and stay aloft for over an hour—more if you can find great lift!”

Through his company, FLIT LLC, Gabe DeVault is providing motor mount/reduction drive units, throttle controllers and general advice to support other Xenos builders as-well as builders of other experimental aircraft types that can use this power package. Sonex now supports builders with airframe battery/motor mounts for installation of the Zaero system on Xenos and Xenos-B Motorgliders! Note that Sonex Aircraft does not consider the Zaero electric propulsion system to be suitable on the Sonex, Waiex, Onex or Sonerai sport aircraft models.

Kitplanes editor at-large Paul Dye is best-known in Sonex circles for his beautiful SubSonex Personal Jet, “Loki,” however, Paul and his wife are also building a Xenos Motorglider and they have elected to make the Zaero electric propulsion package installation in their own Xenos! Kitplanes readers and Sonex enthusiasts will be able to follow Paul’s installation via blog posts and videos, and his aircraft will receive the first-article battery/motor mount from Sonex Aircraft for testing. Read More from Paul Dye and Gabe DeVault about the Zaero powered e-Xenos installation at www.Kitplanes.com/tag/exenos/

Learn More about the Xenos Motorglider!

Read More About the eXenos in Kitplanes Magazine!

 

]]> 20614 Electric Xenos Featured in Kitplanes Magazine; Installation Mounts Coming Soon from Sonex! https://www.sonexaircraft.com/e-xenos-kitplanes-aug-2021/ Wed, 30 Jun 2021 20:01:43 +0000 https://www.sonexaircraft.com/?p=11567 Read More]]> A Xenos Motorglider adorns the August 2021 cover of Kitplanes Magazine, but not just any Xenos Motorglider! “Electrified,” the 12-page feature article written by Kitplanes editor at-large Paul Dye features the electric-powered Xenos built and flown by Gabriel DeVault in Watsonville, CA.

Read the Article Now!

Gabe’s “Zaero” powered Xenos installation, consisting of a Zero Motorcyle fully-electric drivetrain and battery system modified by Gabe for aircraft use, is touted by Kitplanes as the first truly-practical and affordable electric-powered homebuilt aircraft and we agree! The Zaero powered Xenos “can carry two full-size adults and stay aloft for over an hour—more if you can find great lift!”

Through his new company, Flit LLC, Gabe DeVault will be providing motor mount/reduction drive units, throttle controllers and general advice to support other Xenos builders as-well as builders of other experimental aircraft types that can use this power package. Sonex Aircraft will also eventually be supporting builders with airframe battery/motor mounts for installation of the Zaero system on Xenos and Xenos-B Motorgliders. Note that Sonex Aircraft does not consider the Zaero electric propulsion system to be suitable on the Sonex, Waiex, Onex or Sonerai sport aircraft models.

Kitplanes editor at-large Paul Dye is best-known in Sonex circles for his beautiful SubSonex Personal Jet, “Loki,” however, Paul and his wife are also building a Xenos Motorglider and they have elected to make the Zaero electric propulsion package installation in their own Xenos! Kitplanes readers and Sonex enthusiasts will be able to follow Paul’s installation via blog posts and videos, and his aircraft will receive the first-article battery/motor mount from Sonex Aircraft for testing. Keep-up with Paul’s e-Xenos build at www.Kitplanes.com

Read the Kitplanes e-Xenos Article!

Learn More about the Xenos Motorglider!

]]> 11567 Ever Wonder How a Y-Tail Works? https://www.sonexaircraft.com/how-a-y-tail-works/ Tue, 16 Oct 2018 14:14:46 +0000 https://www.sonexaircraft.com/?p=7038 Read More]]> Sonex Aircraft’s Waiex, Xenos and SubSonex aircraft models all share a very special feature: the Y-Tail! The Y-Tail is our unique version of the V-tail that many pilots are familiar with. What makes it a Y-Tail? The rudder! Y-Tails feature not-only a V-tail set of mixed rudder and elevator controls, but also a small rudder at the base of the tail, changing the shape of the V-tail to resemble the letter “Y.” Y-Tails not-only make Waiex, Xenos and SubSonex aircraft look cool, but they also offer superior handling vs. conventional V-tails, offer a simple way to drive tailwheel steering, and gives the exhaust of the SubSonex turbojet engine a place to go. The Y-Tail’s rudder gives the configuration enhanced rudder authority and stability vs. a conventional V-tail — you need a rear-view mirror to tell whether you’re flying a Sonex or a Waiex!

So what makes a Y-Tail work? Kitplanes editor, Xenos and SubSonex builder Paul Dye recently posted an explanation and videos of the Y-Tail in-action to his Kitplanes blog — Check it Out!

Why a Y-Tail? Why Not?

 
Learn More About the Waiex, Xenos and SubSonex!

]]> 7038 EAA Sport Aviation Magazine: “Going With the Wind” https://www.sonexaircraft.com/eaa-sport-aviation-magazine-going-with-the-wind/ Thu, 02 Jul 2009 02:31:08 +0000 https://www.sonexaircraft.com/?p=4151 Read More]]> EAA Sport Aviation Magazine
“Going With the Wind” by Jim Busha

Read the Article!

The first customer-built Xenos Motorglider, Craig Jones’ AeroVee powered Xenos S/N X0011, is featured in the July, 2009 issue of EAA Sport Aviation magazine! The article, “Going with the Wind” by Jim Busha, details Craig’s journey in choosing, building and flying the Xenos, as well as the medical certification benefits of operating a motorglider that helped drive Craig’s decision to build. An additional article, “The Xenos: More than a Motorglider” by Roger Tanner, also appears in the July issue. Roger conducted some of the original Xenos flight tests for Sonex Aircraft, and this article highlights more of the advantages of flying a motorglider. Download the article “Going With the Wind” (404kb PDF File)*

]]> 4151 Sportsman Pilot Magazine: “Craig Jones’ Xenos Motorglider” https://www.sonexaircraft.com/sportsman-pilot-magazine-craig-jones-xenos-motorglider/ Fri, 02 Nov 2007 03:50:29 +0000 https://www.sonexaircraft.com/?p=4196 Sportsman Pilot Magazine
“Craig Jones’ Xenos Motorglider” by Jack Cox

A great article detailing Craig Jones’ flying background and his experiences building and flying the first customer-built Xenos (S/N X0011), on which he did a superb job of construction.

Learn More about the Xenos!

]]> 4196 Kitplanes Magazine: “Y-Tail Wonders” https://www.sonexaircraft.com/kitplanes-magazine-y-tail-wonders/ Sat, 02 Apr 2005 00:03:35 +0000 https://www.sonexaircraft.com/?p=4270 Kitplanes Magazine
“Y-Tail Wonders” (Cover Stories) Waiex and Xenos Flight Reviews. Articles by Murry Rozansky (Xenos) and Dan Johnson (Waiex).

 

]]> 4270 EAA Sport Aviation Magazine: “Sonex,ltd continues to improve the breed” https://www.sonexaircraft.com/eaa-sport-aviation-magazine-sonexltd-continues-to-improve-the-breed/ Thu, 01 Jul 2004 23:17:07 +0000 https://www.sonexaircraft.com/?p=4283 EAA Sport Aviation Magazine
“Sonex,ltd continues to improve the breed” by Jack Cox

]]> 4283 EAA Sport Aviation Magazine: Xenos Wing Test https://www.sonexaircraft.com/eaa-sport-aviation-magazine-xenos-wing-test/ Mon, 02 Apr 2001 00:35:03 +0000 https://www.sonexaircraft.com/?p=4318 EAA Sport Aviation Magazine
Xenos Wing Test featured in “On the Flight Line” news section

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