Sonex has been continually upgrading Xenos Motorglider kits through the years to help make the largest of our kit aircraft models easier to build, and to speed production of Xenos Quick Build Kits as-well as the Teros UAS.

Matched-Hole Formed Parts replace the pre-formed long channel sections previously supplied in our kits with finished parts with all bends complete and pilot holes matching skins and other internal structure parts.

Learn More About the Xenos-B Motorglider

See More Sonex Kit Features & Options!

This change includes a new Universal Seat Pan installation that accommodates both Center and Dual Stick configuration installations and features a removable forward seat pan to improve access for autopilot servo installations, and installation & service of avionics sensor boxes or antennas. The removable Forward Seat Pan installs via piano hinge and includes cover plates for unused center stick or dual stick locations.

New B-Model kit orders can be upgraded with dual sticks for $760 and existing customers may retrofit their kit or flying aircraft via a $1,500 B-Model Dual Stick Retrofit Package. The Dual Stick installation represents a weight increase of approximately 2.25 lbs. vs. Center Stick Installation. Dual Stick B-Model Upholstery options are coming soon.

NOTE: No Parts Exchanges or Returns are accepted for Center Stick Configuration Parts. Dual Stick Retrofit Kit lead time is approximately 10-12 weeks. Existing kit order customers may add the Dual Stick Upgrade to their kit orders by contacting Sonex Customer Service (some parts may be backordered and ship separately).

Learn More About the Sonex-B

Learn More About the Waiex-B

Learn More About the Xenos-B Motorglider

Thank you to all the volunteers, EAA staff, Sonex staff and donors for helping to make this build happen! The One Week Wonder was built during AirVenture 2022, going from Complete Airframe Kit to first taxi in 6-1/2 days. See photos and video coverage of the One Week Wonder in our AirVenture 2022 Wrap-Up!

Learn More About the Waiex-B!

View the Latest Sonex Aircraft Completions

“…it flew very well,” writes Leroy. “Thanks to my ground crew Jerry, cal and Hallis. This is going to be a fun airplane again.” Gold Wings are on the way!

Special Note: Customer already had a UL Power engine available for this project, but it did not have the prop hub length specified for a Sonex Aircraft B-Model, which is the reason for the top cowling modifications shown. With the Sonex-specified prop hub length, no modifications are required to the B-Model cowling for UL Power engines.

View the Latest Sonex Aircraft Completions

Learn More About the Sonex B-Model!

EAA has also released a video about the B-Model featuring John Monnett. See our complete B-Model video playlist on the Sonex Aircraft YouTube channel!

The Sonex Aircraft B-Models offer many enhancements over the original legacy designs and are available in Sonex-B and Waiex-B configurations, along with the newly available Xenos-B Motorglider! B-Model features include:

• More Room and Comfort
• More Panel Space
• More Fuel
• More Engine Choices (engine mounts available for AeroVee/AeroVee Turbo, Jabiru 3300, UL Power and Rotax 912-series)
• More Standard Features
• Less Build Time!
• Same Great Flight Characteristics!

Learn More about the B-Models!

Learn about the New Xenos-B!

Read the Article Now!

Sonex Aircraft is extremely excited to announce that the Waiex-B is featured on the cover of Kitplanes Magazine’s May, 2017 issue!

“Waiex-B: B Stands for Bigger” is written by Kitplanes Editor in Chief Paul Dye and covers all of improvements of both the Sonex-B and Waiex-B and includes a flight review of the Sonex factory prototype Waiex-B, “Red One.”

The Sonex Aircraft B-Models offer many enhancements over the original legacy designs and are available in Sonex-B and Waiex-B configurations, along with the newly available Xenos-B Motorglider! B-Model features include:

• More Room and Comfort
• More Panel Space
• More Fuel
• More Engine Choices (engine mounts available for AeroVee/AeroVee Turbo, Jabiru 3300, UL Power and Rotax 912-series)
• More Standard Features
• Less Build Time!
• Same Great Flight Characteristics!

The Waiex-B factory prototype aircraft can be seen along with the SubSonex Personal Jet at Sun ‘n Fun 2017!

Learn More About the Sonex-B and Waiex-B

Learn More About the Xenos-B Motorglider

B-Model Features Added to Xenos Motorglider!

January 5, 2017, Oshkosh, WI

Sonex Aircraft is extremely pleased to announce the new Xenos B-Model aircraft kit! The Xenos-B combines all of the great enhancements of the Sonex and Waiex B-Models with the outstanding motorglider performance and value of the Xenos. The Xenos-B is available to order now, with a Complete Airframe Kit base price of USD $27,495. Kit shipments are estimated to begin in March, 2017.

“We’re very excited to bring the huge improvements of the Sonex and Waiex B-Models to the Xenos motorglider,” writes Sonex Aircraft General Manager Mark Schaible. “This change has been requested by many prospective Xenos Motorglider customers and brings all of our two-place aircraft up to the same enhanced B-Model specification. B-Model fuselage changes for the Xenos also bring expanded payload opportunities to the Teros UAV program, which we are continually developing in-conjunction with Navmar Applied Sciences Corporation.”

Xenos B-Model enhancements include:

More Room and Comfort:
Sonex and Waiex B-Models are enlarged via straightening of the forward fuselage sides, and feature improved creature comforts:

• More width and comfort at the shoulders, hips, knees and feet.
• Seat back is moved aft, and new seating geometry accommodates taller individuals. Staggered seating is available via upholstery seat back cushions.
• Center “Y-Stick” offers dual controls with easier cockpit entry and roomier seating.

More Panel Space:
The enlarged B-Model instrument panel offers plenty of space for today’s popular dual-screen avionics installations (including the MGL iEFIS Explorer 8.5” displays) with room to spare.

More Engine Options:
A new Universal Cowl is designed to fit many popular engine options. Builders can experience the same great firewall-forward support for AeroVee/AeroVee Turbo and Jabiru engines, and in addition, B-Model engine mounts are available for UL Power and Rotax 912-series engines.

More Fuel:
The new B-Model fuel tank holds 20 US gallons – a 4-gallon increase over the original Xenos!

More Standard Features and Less Build Time:
Xenos B-Model kits come with more of what builders need to finish their aircraft in the shortest time possible:

• Machined Angle Components Included
• AeroBrake Hydraulic Brakes Included
• Dual Throttle Quadrants Included
• AeroConversions Trim System Included
• ABS Molded Cockpit Side Panels, Cable and Pushrod Fairings Included
• Precision-molded cowling is installed quickly and easily
• Engine mount bolts quickly and accurately to the airframe
• More laser-cut, formed and machined parts to reduce fabrication time and ease construction
• Machined Canopy Bows for easier canopy installation with a perfect fit
• Plus all the great features of existing Sonex Aircraft kits

The Same Great Xenos Flight Characteristics:
The best part of a Sonex Aircraft is the way it flies, and the B-Model Xenos will be no-exception!

• Lightening the aircraft in key areas without sacrificing structural integrity gives the B-Model a very similar weight despite it’s larger size.
• Performance specifications are equal. Takeoff, climb, cruise, stall, landing: the specifications are the same between B-Models and the original generation aircraft.
• More engine options with 100 hp or more offers more options for enhanced performance with your B-Model.

The Xenos follows in the Monnett tradition of bringing the cost of motor gliding to a highly affordable level. Using the same cost-effective and easy-to-build construction techniques and materials of the Sonex and Waiex, the Xenos offers another Reality Check for the soaring world. The Xenos comes standard with utility wing tips that can be easily removed to fit inside a 40 foot hangar, and can be quickly interchanged with optional aerobatic wingtips.

The Xenos can either be flown as a Sport Pilot/LSA, or it can be flown by pilots that hold a glider rating with a self-launch glider endorsement. The Xenos can be flown as a powered aircraft, a self-launched glider that soars with the engine off, or it can motor-soar over great distances with incredible fuel economy.

Sonex Aircraft, LLC is a leader in the experimental kit aircraft industry, providing a series of sport aircraft along with the AeroConversions line of products, which include the AeroVee engine, AeroVee Turbo, AeroInjector and ancillary aviation products. Sonex Aircraft’s Sonex, Waiex, and Onex sport planes, the Xenos sport motorglider, and the SubSonex Personal Jet, offer outstanding performance in an easy to build, easy to fly kit package that can be purchased and completed with full technical support at an unrivaled price. Highly regarded as an engineering company, Sonex has diversified its offerings to include the Teros line of UAV aircraft for civil and defense missions in conjunction with Navmar Applied Sciences Corporation. Sonex and AeroConversions continue to invest heavily in developing new products. Our team is committed to providing simple, elegant and low-cost solutions for sport flying. Simply put, Sonex Aircraft and AeroConversions products provide the Best Performance Per Dollar. Check us out at www.SonexAircraft.com and www.AeroConversions.com

HIGH RESOLUTION IMAGES AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD:

Xenos B-Model 3-View (Download High Resolution Image: 10.9mb jpeg file)

Xenos-B First Article Quick Build Kit (Download High Resolution Image: 1.2mb jpeg file)

B-Model Enhanced Cockpit and Panel (Download High Resolution Image: 8.6mb jpeg file)

XENOS B-MODEL WEB PAGE: http://www.sonexaircraft.com/xenos

SONEX AND WAIEX B-MODELS WEB PAGE:
– http://www.sonexaircraft.com/sonex
– http://www.sonexaircraft.com/waiex

SUBSCRIBE TO THE SONEX AND AEROCONVERSIONS PUBLIC RELATIONS RSS FEED & MAILING LIST: http://www.sonexaircraft.com/subscribe/#web_updates_list

PRESS CONTACT:
Mark Schaible
Sonex Aircraft, LLC
www.SonexAircraft.com
Phone: (920) 231-8297
Fax:     (920) 426-8333
E-mail: Use our Contact Form

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WBParts SmartKits are provided in sturdy impact-resistant plastic toolbox drawer assemblies that are organized, labeled and filled by hardware type and include QR codes for easy re-ordering.

Effective December 21st, all new Sonex-B and Waiex B Complete Airframe Kit, Kit-Minus-Tail Package and Quick Build Kit orders will include WBParts SmartKit hardware packages with updated kit pricing, and SmartKits can also be purchased separately from the Sonex Web Store. Additionally, B-Model Hardware Lists are now available for download from our Hardware web page.

SmartKits bring Six-Sigma / Lean Manufacturing principles to the kit builder’s hangar. SmartKits save time and organization, and shortens overall time to completion. Genuine component parts are in each SmartKit and provide manufacturing trace. SmartKits will keep your parts more organized, giving a more enjoyable and fulfilling kit-building experience. Best of all SmartKits can increase the ease of FAA Airworthiness inspection because they incorporate FAA Safety Values.

Return to the Hornets’ Nest/B-Model Archive

Return to the Hornets’ Nest/B-Model Archive

The Sonex Aircraft B-Models received some love from the folks at Aero-News.net, with the release of an AirVenture 2016 video interview with Sonex GM Mark Schaible featuring the B-Model, along with the SubSonex Personal Jet. The B-Model’s AirVenture debut helped Sonex earn Aero-News’s vote for having some of the “Coolest Stuff @ AirVenture Oshkosh 2016”! According to ANN, “The Sonex-B and Waiex-B Make a Good Product Even Better, and the Jet is Still a Scorcher.”