Just go for it this is a great plane to fly , I am 79 and flying for over fifty years . I do not know your age but a LSA lic can be had these days in 25 30 hrs . I am going to get rid of my Cessna 150M and use the sonex and fly LSA no medical next 10 years . Get your Lic you will never regret it . Best ot all Jack....
I spun my KR2 regularly . The first time scared me as it snapped into a spin when I applied cruise power while recovering from a mush, while practicing stalls . The airplane would just go into a mush , fully controllable . No break or wing drop . It spun really fast either way and recovered fast. One hell of an airplane but very sensitive in pitch . It would fly in ground effect at 40 mph at full gross . As a tail wheel you had to hold the tail up until below 40. Still it was quick on the controls.
The airframe is rock solid. If you like aerobatics then the optional acro ailerons will give a quicker roll rate. As for powerplant, the VW is really inexpensive, but at 80 hp it can be a challenge when things are hot and/or heavy. The Jabiru 3300 is 120hp (6 cylinders) and it an excellent option. Other options these days include a Corvair, UL, Viking, Rotax and a few others. Only some are supported by the factory, but you can use anything you want.
It's an 80hp engine, so you have to know what it can and can't do or you'll end up pretty unhappy. In cold weather, at 1100 lbs, I can climb out at 1,000 fpm, and it performs quite well. On a hot summer day, at gross weight, I may only see 300 fpm on takeoff, which is not very comfortable if there are any obstructions ahead, like tall trees. So I don't often fly at gross weight on hot days. When I travel out to OSH at gross weight, I leave in the morning when it's cool, and choose fuel stops with longer runways and fewer obstructions. By the time I get to Ohio that's usually not a problem.
It's a great little airplane. Awesome view out the canopy. Feels like you're flying a little fighter. Very responsive. Easy to take off and land. Jab 3300 is a great option, providing half again as much power as my VW. If you can afford it, go for it.
I'm actually working on it. It will probably be spring of 2019 before it's done. I have other RUclips videos of my construction: ruclips.net/video/hACpJ2mQHIQ/видео.html , ruclips.net/video/D7ZnuyszgLg/видео.html , ruclips.net/video/9rP8qTLFGXc/видео.html , ruclips.net/video/kpZyJPbEons/видео.html
I don't have a tailwheel endorsement, and zero tailwheel time... the only thing about this flight that made me nervous was having to take a hand off the stick while rolling out in order to be able to simultaneously operate the throttle and the brakes. No toe brake option?
I'm at a slow taxi speed and I was making the first turn off. Unless there's a strong cross wind the stick isn't doing anything; I could point it anywhere. The rudder pedals are what's really important.
That addresses one specific situation, while I was thinking about what may be a general need to control throttle, brakes, rudder, ailerons, and elevator on a windy day.
I have 3 years and 300 hours on the plane, and 4,000 miles of cross country flight.. Braking hasn't been an issue. Toe brakes add weight and complexity. The Sonex is designed to be light and simple. When I touch down the thottle has already been pulled to idle. No need to touch the throttle. But I like to keep my revs up a bit to keep the alternator charging, or to expedite clearing the runway. That was really the only reason I was reaching for the throttle. The stick wasn't needed so it was not a priority. Thanks for watching.
Seems this is the only plane I’ve found that’s available as plans, I'll get out my tools and order parts through Hocotate Freight. If I can fix my spacecraft, then I can build this plane.
Because the grass blades on the landing strips are too long, I’ll tarmac some small runways in the garden especially for you. If you build a helicopter, you can put it in the landing zone where you land your spaceship and where the onions land.
This was great! Your commentaries are wonderful as you go through every move calling out air speed and height and yoke movement. I love the Sonex!
Glad you liked it. I'm pretty blown away there have been more than 13K views!
One of the best and most informative videos I have seen... Thanks for all the cometary... Great job!
Nicely put together video of the Sonex
Great video!! I have been considering the sonex for some time. Looks like a blast to fly. Thanks for the video.
I like the Sonex as well, I just hate the canopy, with that forward brace right in my field of vision!!!
So interesting, clear and very well shown ( throttle, stick and ruder - quiete rare on casual video ) Bravo et merci !
Thanks for the ride along. I've always wanted my PPL, need to make it happen. Love the Sonex, great bird and great vid.
Just go for it this is a great plane to fly , I am 79 and flying for over fifty years . I do not know your age but a LSA lic can be had these days in 25 30 hrs . I am going to get rid of my Cessna 150M and use the sonex and fly LSA no medical next 10 years . Get your Lic you will never regret it . Best ot all Jack....
@@Buckshot42 wow that's really awesome, thank you.
Very good video. Many thanks.
I spun my KR2 regularly . The first time scared me as it snapped into a spin when I applied cruise power while recovering from a mush, while practicing stalls . The airplane would just go into a mush , fully controllable . No break or wing drop . It spun really fast either way and recovered fast. One hell of an airplane but very sensitive in pitch . It would fly in ground effect at 40 mph at full gross . As a tail wheel you had to hold the tail up until below 40. Still it was quick on the controls.
Nice video .. I'm considering a sonex or onex in my future. Enjoyed watching and the commentary.
The airframe is rock solid. If you like aerobatics then the optional acro ailerons will give a quicker roll rate. As for powerplant, the VW is really inexpensive, but at 80 hp it can be a challenge when things are hot and/or heavy. The Jabiru 3300 is 120hp (6 cylinders) and it an excellent option. Other options these days include a Corvair, UL, Viking, Rotax and a few others. Only some are supported by the factory, but you can use anything you want.
That first one to the right looked to be a spiral. It never quit flying. Now the second one was a spin, as you could tell when the left wing let go.
That was so cool. Great job commentating!
Glad you enjoyed it. If the weather in New England would ever cooperate on the weekends I'll post more.
Haha, I bet you can't wait until it's 'really' spring up there.
How well does the plane climb with passengers? At 1100 lbs, can it even climb?
It's an 80hp engine, so you have to know what it can and can't do or you'll end up pretty unhappy. In cold weather, at 1100 lbs, I can climb out at 1,000 fpm, and it performs quite well. On a hot summer day, at gross weight, I may only see 300 fpm on takeoff, which is not very comfortable if there are any obstructions ahead, like tall trees. So I don't often fly at gross weight on hot days. When I travel out to OSH at gross weight, I leave in the morning when it's cool, and choose fuel stops with longer runways and fewer obstructions. By the time I get to Ohio that's usually not a problem.
@@mikesmith208
Good info, thanks!
Great video. I have been wanting a plane like yours but with the Jabiru 3300. Other than price what are your feelings about that system?
It's a great little airplane. Awesome view out the canopy. Feels like you're flying a little fighter. Very responsive. Easy to take off and land. Jab 3300 is a great option, providing half again as much power as my VW. If you can afford it, go for it.
Great flying
Hi Michael, can you do a vlog on how you built your sonex? Thanks.
I'm actually working on it. It will probably be spring of 2019 before it's done. I have other RUclips videos of my construction: ruclips.net/video/hACpJ2mQHIQ/видео.html , ruclips.net/video/D7ZnuyszgLg/видео.html , ruclips.net/video/9rP8qTLFGXc/видео.html , ruclips.net/video/kpZyJPbEons/видео.html
AeroVee (VW), 80 hp.
really nice vid captain
great video! what engine do you have in this? whats the horsepower?Jabiru 3300?
Excellent video. How many hours do you have on the Aerovee?
I have 210 hours on the engine. It's made a couple of 2,000 mile trips.
Nice Video - thank you
I don't have a tailwheel endorsement, and zero tailwheel time... the only thing about this flight that made me nervous was having to take a hand off the stick while rolling out in order to be able to simultaneously operate the throttle and the brakes. No toe brake option?
I'm at a slow taxi speed and I was making the first turn off. Unless there's a strong cross wind the stick isn't doing anything; I could point it anywhere. The rudder pedals are what's really important.
That addresses one specific situation, while I was thinking about what may be a general need to control throttle, brakes, rudder, ailerons, and elevator on a windy day.
I have 3 years and 300 hours on the plane, and 4,000 miles of cross country flight.. Braking hasn't been an issue. Toe brakes add weight and complexity. The Sonex is designed to be light and simple. When I touch down the thottle has already been pulled to idle. No need to touch the throttle. But I like to keep my revs up a bit to keep the alternator charging, or to expedite clearing the runway. That was really the only reason I was reaching for the throttle. The stick wasn't needed so it was not a priority. Thanks for watching.
Where are you flying? Reminds me of Flathead Lake, Montana.
Just outside of Boston, MA, near Worcester.
Michael Smith Thanks
I love this
Great
Your spin stopped because you’re not holding enough back pressure to hold it in.
Seems this is the only plane I’ve found that’s available as plans, I'll get out my tools and order parts through Hocotate Freight.
If I can fix my spacecraft, then I can build this plane.
Because the grass blades on the landing strips are too long, I’ll tarmac some small runways in the garden especially for you. If you build a helicopter, you can put it in the landing zone where you land your spaceship and where the onions land.
Captain Murphy What is tarmac?
Captain Olimar Tarmac is adding a layer of tar on something.
Captain Murphy Don’t forget to make some small hangars where I can put my aircraft, you can 3D print them with your 3D printer. 😁
Captain Olimar Large 3D models can be expensive, difficult, and take too long to print, but I’ll think about something. 👌
What do you think about the turbo option?
I don't have the turbo, so I can't really offer an opinion. More horsepower is almost always better.
and the reliability of the std Aerovee? how performs in 2000 ft Runways , thanks for the Answer from Argentina
Is it just me noticing a little bit of yaw instability?
Just pilot error. Plane is a very stable and nimble platform.
66kts downwind? I like to keep my speed up so no one runs into the back of me;)
I guess you don’t fly champs or cubs ha