Shipping & Packaging

The following details what to expect when taking delivery of an Airframe Kit or Engine shipment. For our complete shipping policy, please review the Sonex Terms and Conditions.

Shipping Addresses

When placing a kit or engine order, please be sure to notify Sonex if there are separate addresses to which you would like Small Package Shipments (US Mail or UPS) to be shipped vs. Kit and Engine Shipments via Freight Carriers.

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Airframe Kits

Packaging

Typical Sonex Airframe Kit shipments consist of two main articles: (1) A pallet with several boxes; (2) A tube or crate containing the aircraft Spar Caps or Pre-Assembled Main Wing Spars.

Dimensions and Weights:

• Building via Sub-Kits will increase your shipping costs vs. moving a single shipment of a Complete Airframe Kit. Not only will Sub-Kit building require the consignment of multiple shipments, but those individual shipment costs can often be higher than the cost of a Complete Airframe Kit shipment. This is due to the fact that Sub-Kit shipments, particularly Fuselage and Wing Kit shipments, require roughly the same dimensional volume as a Complete Airframe Kit, yet have a lower weight. The combination of low weight with high volume requires a higher NMFC Freight Classification according U.S. Tariff Regulations. Proper assignment of NMFC freight class is also required so that your freight is appropriately insured against damage.
• Combining multiple Sub-Kits in a single order/shipment is your best way to reduce these costs via lowering of the NMFC freight class with a heavier shipment. For example, combining Sonex Wing and Fuselage Sub-Kits will change the individual Sub-Kits' freight class to a less-expensive classification.
• Sonex Aircraft Tail Kits, while smaller and more compact packages, will often fall below the minimum charges required by LTL freight carriers, so plan at least a couple hundred dollars in shipping cost for a Tail Kit.

• Quick Build Kits:
  Quick Build Kits are shipped via specialized transport to most of the U.S. and do not require crating. For international shipping, Quick Build Kits require packaging in a Full Container and shipment via Ocean FCL transport. See Shipping Quick Build Kits below for more information.
• International Shipments:
  Kits shipped outside of the conterminous United States and Canada are fully crated and weigh approximately 1200 lbs for the Sonex, Waiex, and Onex, and approximately 1400 lbs for the Xenos. The shipment dimensions remain essentially the same.

The Pallet:

Unloading:

Although Your Kit weighs over 700 lbs and is 10 feet long, don't panic about accepting delivery at your residence. You don't need a fork lift or any specialized equipment. The kit can be unloaded by two people if need be.

The banding holding the kit boxes to the pallet can be cut and each box may be easily unloaded from the truck by hand.

The pallet itself (you are going to remember to keep the pallet, right?) weighs between 200 lbs for the Sonex and 250 lbs for the Xenos. It can be unloaded by hand by two people of average strength if you lower each end of the pallet off the truck one at a time, with both people on one end at a time only. You could even lower one end onto the ground and have the truck driver pull the trailer out from underneath the other end of the pallet if need be, although there is a very slight risk of part damage with this method, and a high risk of crushing your toes or your family pet if you're not careful.

In most cases, if you are of reasonably average strength and flexibility, you and the truck driver can unload the shipment by hand if you are taking delivery of the kit by yourself. If you can recruit some flying buddies to lend a hand, however, the unloading process will be that much easier and safer. The driver will also appreciate not being asked to help hand unload, although most drivers will help if needed.

If you are having the kit shipped to a location where there is a fork lift available, it is always best to lift the kit from one end using fork extensions whenever possible. Watch for "Lift From Other End" labels when doing so.

Do not, under any circumstances, attempt to unload the kit from a trailer using a lift gate. Because your kit pallet is 10 feet in length, it will not fit onto the lift gate properly and your freight will very likely be damaged.

• Checking for Damage:
  Before signing the freight Bill of Lading, be sure to check the kit for obvious signs of damage and note any possible damage on the Bill of Lading before signing. Sonex is not responsible for freight damage, and if damage occurs, you must file a damage claim with the freight company. More details about our freight damage policy and what to do if damage occurs can be found in the Sonex Terms and Conditions.
• Taking Inventory:
  Your airframe kit will include a detailed pack list. The cover page of your pack list consists of a table identifying each box on the pallet. The freight company's shipping labels on each box are numbered and those numbers correspond to the table on the pack list cover page.
   
  The following pages of your kit pack list give a detailed accounting of all parts packed in your kit and in which boxes they can be found.
   
  Be sure to completely unpack and inventory your kit as soon as possible. If there are damaged items inside the kit, your damage claim will go much smoother if you file it within 10 business days of receiving your freight (For more instructions about freight damage, view the Sonex Terms and Conditions). Also, if there is anything missing from your kit that has not been noted as a backorder on your pack list, you must report it to us as soon as possible. If you are missing items in your kit, please be sure you have unpacked the kit completely and have double-checked that you are missing parts before calling. We will then send you the parts you need right away. If you wait more than a month or so to check for missing items, however, you may be charged for those items.

Shipping

For our full shipping policy, please see the Sonex Terms and Conditions page.

• Domestic Shipping:
  Complete Airframe Kits and Sub-Kits shipped within the conterminous United States and Canada typically ship with XPO Logistics (formerly called Con-Way Freight), an LTL (less-than-truckload) freight carrier. Once your kit is picked-up from our facility, you will receive an email from Sonex Aircraft with shipping details and instructions. If you do not have email, Sonex staff will call you with shipping details.
   
  You will have an opportunity to speak with freight company representatives and make an appointment for delivery. Keep in mind that, although most freight dispatchers are very flexible when dealing with residential deliveries, if you have to force the freight company to accommodate your schedule, you may be subject to extra delivery charges. If you are shipping to a business address, you will most likely not hear from the freight company before delivery, although you are more than welcome to contact them. When shipping to an airport or hangar, Sonex policy is to book residential delivery service unless you are shipping to a business on the airport with regular hours of operation during the business day. You may also opt to pick-up your shipment from the freight terminal serving your delivery address. Pick-ups are not charged residential delivery fees. If you wish to pick-up your freight from the terminal, please be sure to let us know during the order entry process.
   
  You may obtain quotes for LTL shipping from Sonex prior to your kit shipment date. We can also supply you with estimated transit time based on your proximity to Oshkosh, WI, counted in business days. Sonex, LLC is able to offer deeply discounted shipping rates to our customers.
• Picking-up your kit from Sonex:
  Customers do have the option of picking-up their airframe kit from our facility in Oshkosh, WI. Please realize, however, that all merchandise pick-ups are subject to 5% Wisconsin Sales Tax, regardless of the customer's state of residence. In many cases, the Wisconsin Sales Tax payment can be contributed to your home state tax payment required at the time of aircraft registration, but in some states this is not possible, or would be more expensive than paying a shipping bill and staying at home. Please check your own local and state sales tax laws. The airframe kit and spar cap tube/spar crate (Sonex, Waiex or Onex) can be loaded into the bed of a full-size pickup truck with the tail gate left open. Please be sure to bring your own ropes or tie downs, tarpaulin, a red or orange flag and any other securement supplies you might need.
• International Shipping:
  If you are having your kit shipped internationally, Sonex will obtain shipping quotes after your kit order has been placed, and will present you with the lowest-cost options. International kit shipments are shipped via surface freight and typically have a processing/transit time of approximately 30-60 days after leaving our facility.
   
  Depending on the available service in the destination country, you will usually be given the option of shipping door-to-door or door-to-port. In most cases, door-to-port shipping will be the most economical choice because inland delivery service can often be booked less expensively from within your home country than the rates Sonex Aircraft can obtain from outside the destination country. You also have the option of shipping door-to-port and picking-up the freight personally from the port of discharge.

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Quick Build Kits

Quick Build Kit Packaging & Shipping

| Airframe Kits | Quick Build Kits | Engines |

Engines

AeroVee Packaging & Shipping

The AeroVee Engine Kit is packaged into several separate boxes, strapped to a pallet (or crate for international shipping). General domestic and international shipping information given above also applies to AeroVee Engine Kit shipments. For our full shipping policy, please see Sonex Terms and Conditions.

• Domestic Shipping:
  For AeroVee engine shipments to the conterminous United States and Canada, the AeroVee Engine Kit ships on a small pallet via motor freight. The typical AeroVee Engine Kit shipment measures approximately 53"x48"x32" and weighs approximately 260-300 lbs, depending upon configuration and accessories.
• International Shipping:
  If you are having your AeroVee shipped internationally, Sonex will obtain shipping quotes after your engine kit order has been placed, and will present you with the lowest-cost options. International AeroVee shipments may be shipped via surface freight with a typical processing/transit time of approximately 30-60 calendar days after leaving our facility, or may be shipped via air freight with a transit time of approximately 10 business days.
   
  Depending on the available service in the destination country, you will usually be given the option of shipping door-to-door or door-to-port. In most cases, door-to-port shipping will be the most economical choice because inland delivery service can often be booked less expensively from within your home country than the rates Sonex Aircraft can obtain from outside the destination country. You also have the option of shipping door-to-port and picking-up the freight personally from the port of discharge.
   
  The AeroVee Engine crate for international shipping typically measures 54"x48"x35" and weighs approximately 350-400 lbs. Note that additional items included in the order, particularly propellers, may change these crating dimensions and weights.
• Shipping an AeroVee with your Airframe Kit:
  If you elect to purchase your Airframe Kit and AeroVee engine at the same time, your AeroVee engine kit will most likely be shipped with your Airframe Kit. In some cases, the AeroVee kit boxes can ship on the same pallet with your airframe kit boxes. Either way, you will save in total shipping cost vs. having kit and engine shipped as separate consignments.
• Checking for Damage:
  Be sure to check for damage when taking delivery of your engine shipment, per the guidelines listed above.

UL Power Engines

UL Power Engines are drop-shipped FOB from UL Power North America in Missouri. Shipments are typically made by Estes freight and booked for Collect payment (you pay the shipping charges upon receipt). Be sure to check for damage when taking delivery of your engine shipment, per the guidelines listed above. Sonex airframe owners outside the United States and Canada may purchase their UL Power engine from other UL Power dealers to reduce shipping costs.