Sonex Highwing Aircraft Update Webinar, February 7, 2023
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- Опубликовано: 6 авг 2024
- This is what you have been waiting for: more details on the new Sonex Highwing aircraft design! In this EAA webinar presentation, Sonex owner and Highwing designer Mark Schaible gives the latest update regarding the Highwing’s design in anticipation of the aircraft’s debut at AirVenture 2023.
Join the Sonex Highwing Mailing List to stay current on all the latest news at: www.sonexaircraft.com/hornets... 
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I personally feel that this is the most exciting aircraft that you have ever announced.
Really enjoyed this webinar a couple days ago and have been back a time or two since. So I went back over some mission requirements/desires I wrote down 8-10 years ago which included the following with a couple recent additions on the bottom:
- Stall speed < 50 mph
- Cruise speed (TAS @ altitude) > 150 mph
- Fuel burn ~5 gallons/hour or less
- Readily burn auto gas
- Engine with modern tech - fuel injection & electronic ignition
- Useful load > 560 lb
- Takeoff and landing distance < 750 ft
- Readily operate off grass
- >650 mile range
- 60 lb baggage
- Side by side seating with cockpit width ~44 in or greater
- High wing with easy ingress/egress for 25-30+ years of flying
- All in price to build including engine & prop < ~$75k
I realize I may be slightly biased, but IMHO the Sonex High Wing assuming the weight and performance numbers come in relatively close to what was shared in this webinar may be about the only aircraft capable of meeting the requirements I laid out above.
I have been working on a Sonerai for a while with the belief that I would someday build/buy something different in the future, but now I'm strongly just considering pivoting to the Sonex High Wing with the belief that this could be the only airplane I'd ever need/want and probably the one I could make use of the longest. Decisions, decisions and will need to save up some $$, but a good problem as they say. Will of course be my first stop at Oshkosh next year. Best of luck to the Sonex team and I know I and a lot of others will be excited to see the prototype! 😀
Thank you so much. I can't wait to see the proptotype fly.
Vans missed the mark with the RV-15 and a strut braced wing. I'm really excited that you guys chose the cantilever wing! I would prefer a traditional kit. I just started building a Onex, thanks Mark!
Onex has the best folding wing design on the market. The only truly practical folder I've seen. That's why I decided to build one too. Fits perfectly in the hangar with my other airplane, and will be more interesting to take to local fly-ins.
can't compare a bush/back country plane, Vans, with 50gal. capacity to a light sport that they stated is not for STOL or outback flying and only carrying 20gal. .
The Vans RV-15 is said to have "at least 900lb useful load" and >50 gallons. It is perfectly suited to the larger end of the two seat bush plane range. Coming in at a tentative 2,050 gross weight. Larger than Carbon Cub, Husky, Kitfox, etc. smaller than a Maule. Great hauler for camping and hunting gear. Aluminum for outdoor durability, normal vans construction process, etc.
I'm not even a Vans fan boi. They do a lot of things right. But the RV-3 spar failure fiasco after fiasco, for two decades would have (should have) been the end. Pi$$ poor engineering in the spar caps. Who wouldn't use L-extrusions... Any engineer who attacks the wing spar, especially near the root, does not deserve to be in business. IMO.
Using the mnemonic that defined what we did at Boeing: TLAR- That Looks About Right. You’ve got a winner!
I watched and listened in last night. Really interesting plane and I think it will be a big winner for Sonex.
One thing I hope they can develop at the same same as the kit is being planned and cut out is something that the folks over at Zenith are doing for a lot of their kits. Not only are the parts coming matched hole drilled but they also final hole sized.
If you watched any of Zenith’s latest videos with this being developed currently for their 701 you can see just how much this will both ease and speed up construction. Really interesting videos if you get a chance. They almost eliminate the need for quick build kits with how much time it can save.
Just a suggestion gang.
Hi Wally. Full-size matched hole is definitely something we plan to expand in this kit and others such as the 2-place SubSonex. We invested in a CNC router in 2021 for this purpose as we feel laser cutting is not ideal for full size matched hole.
That’s great, thanks for the update.
@@SonexLLC That is really good to hear.
I really like the high wing airplane over the low wing. It will fit me and my orthopedic injuries so much better than the low wing.
Looking forward to it, I'm interested 👍
Awesome. I missed it last night
Looks like a more forgiving Whittman Tailwind.
That's what it reminds me of. Makes sense that it does have some Tailwind DNA in the design.
Congrats. Neat looking bird.
Looks really good! I like this more over the low wing sonex. I hope we can see it start with kits soon as I'd like this to be my first kit.
Yes High wing aerobatic.!!!!... or least stressed to a few Gs... utility etc. is good enough! for 99% of us.. Nice!
My two cents on the stick options. The rendering of the center stick shows throttles on either side. Understandable - especially for Instructor type scenarios. But those throttles look like real body rippers as you get in and out. Rather dual stick and a center throttle setup - probably less difficult to setup. The complexity plus slop in the dual throttle setup being hard to manage.
I do mostly "sidecountry" flying. In and out of short grass strips but no real off airport flying. Occasionally maybe a farmers field or something. I dont need massive tires to roll over big rocks, but rugged suspension would be a big bonus. When landing very short there is sometimes a need to put the plane down quite firm. So I was wondering what you think about modding it with cabane vee suspension? Also, for the mechanically inclined of us, would you ever consider manual flaps and trim?
What would be the depth of the baggage area? Curious if a bicycle with the wheels removed could be stowed in back.
Man a tailwind with a cantilever wing and a rotax or aerovee sounds great!
A high wing LSA kit with a tail dragger option.
If you are not interested in a purpose-desingned STOLmachine/bushplane there is little on the market like this with the possible exception of some tube fabric and some composite offerings like the Skyranger and Skyranger Nynga.
But it's an Aluminium Sonex!
Can I mount a Rotax 912is or a Rotax 914?
a Robinson helicopter dual stick setup is awesome for getting in and out of the aircraft, and once you get used to it, you don't even notice it's not a center stick and it feels like a traditional between-the-legs control, other than you're not limited in movement by your legs due to the ability of the stick to move vertically as well.
If I built this high wing, I'd convert it to a Robinson helicopter-like center stick with dual controls. With the ability to detach the passenger stick just like Robinson.
Definitely do-able and I recognize it works well for the Robbie and the Tailwind. I’m going to continue to conscientiously object, however, on aesthetic grounds 🤣
@@SonexLLC no worries. I'm practical (some people find me far too logical/practical in fact) and can learn to love the way something looks if it is a good design, as I came to like the Robinson stick. I used to hate it too, but it's just so darn practical.
Can anyone summarize this for someone who just does not have the time to watch this entire video? Genuinely interested just work too much to watch the entire thing. TYIA!
A folding wing would be a great option.
Wittman tailwind revisited.
Thanks, great information in this presentation. I operate out of a 6,300 ft MSL field. What is the critical altitude for the AeroVee turbo? Would the turbo be enough engine or is the UL engine the better choice? I would love to get the AeroVee for the fun of assembling it. Can’t wait to see it at Oshkosh - we plan make the final choices on which airframe and engine to order after the show.
AeroVee Turbo should be plenty. Wing loading is only 11.2 lbs per sq. ft.
@@SonexLLC Thanks. Good to know. I used to run a Cessna 140 with a O-235 and it got sporty sometimes in the summer
One more question: You mentioned skis, will you have a robust factory cabin heat option for the turbo?
We will probably finally take the opportunity to do a factory cabin heat installation on the Highwing vs. having builders roll their own install using common parts from Aircraft Spruce. For an E-LSA or S-LSA it will need to be a “factory stock” setup that we determine.
There doesn’t seem to be any progression in this project. It seem to be a sham, I wanted one of these so badly.
V tail option ?
Option 3 - Yokes
🤮
? Will it also have a Y tail option ?
No. Too much turbulence from the wash off the wing in the high wing configuration to use a Y-Tail.
So will Sonex still be taking orders at Osh as planned previously? Lead times???
That is our plan at this time. My hope is to be shipping kits, even if just sub-kits to start, by the end of this year or early 2024.
@@SonexLLC I’ll have my checkbook at Osh 👍🏼
Not gonna happen i see. Disappointing. Bye bye sale.
At aboot minute 19:00 you talk of no annuals by owner if I sell. My name is Joe Smith. If I get a buyer with same name, can he do the annual?
Only the original holder of repairman authorization can perform annual inspections. Others can do "owner maintenance" such as oil and tires. Interior or paint. Minor adjustments. Etc. But A&P required for major inspection or repair.
I've wanted a Waiex for a while now, but a high wing with a Y-tail would be so much better for my family and be super unique. I'm sure it could be converted. 😁 Used to periodically check out paint schemes for my future plane. I'd countersink and flush rivet everything for the super smooth, clean look and slightly better efficiency/performance.
So excited for this!!! (And the dual stick)
Rewatch - the Y tail is specifically discounted on the High Wing. It doesn't work aerodynamically.
Build both then.
A Waiex and a High Wing Sonex!
Can it be put on floats?
Sure!
We will build a Sonex tri-gear, high-wing kit plane, with:
*Custom dual side sticks
Is it possible to make this plane ifr capable?
If you have to ask. You probably aren't IFR current.
this is the same one PILOT BAMBI is flying all over Africa right?????
oh she fly'n around Africa in a SLING?, eh... ;)
Yeah, cool airplane, but not nearly as cool as this one 😎
two place jet - Jetson?
Was this designed with the MOSAIC regulations in mind?
Yes, in that it is a design platform from which we can build a line of new aircraft for MOSAIC regulations, but no in that this aircraft complies with existing regulations and is not dependent upon the success of the current MOSAIC efforts or modeled around any specific proposed MOSAIC specifications, which are still not finalized.
53:40 how about name it Topex? feels better than Highex
By the thumb I thought this was a Tailwind.
Uhh, high wing aircraft go faster on the same horsepower. Plus your in the shade! Of course a kit and quik built option! Uhh lsa ?? Not so much! This airplane would be perfect as a affordable cross country machine! Viking 130 hp engine would be a good alternative!
This is not faster than the current aircraft. Will be a little slower. It is LSA compliant: www.sonexaircraft.com/sport-pilot/
Sonex missed the development of the C-model!
I hope sonex realizes the benefit of a brs system in their aircraft. It has saved my life once. I’m a very safe pilot and I won’t say much about it to keep my anonymity but there are some jackass controllers and pilots out there. Plus night flying which some of us have to do for work make it a true transport option.
You can install BRS in almost any aircraft with ingenuity or engineering. The parachute company will help. But straps around the spar, and a hatch out the back window is a good place to star.
High-wing are often better. Ie. I want people to see less-impeded views. Next thing… lower the dash/hood 8-9 inches. Angle the dashboard angled up 10 degrees. Visibility is #1
Whitman tailwind....
Looks like a smaller, less useful BD-4. I do love what Sonex does but they really need to get into the 4 place market. The Sling Tsi balloned in cost and has not been the value leader that was promised.
Waiting for MOSAIC with eager anticipation…
@@SonexLLC Exactly. No need to jump the gun. I'm excited for a JSX-2. Single person aircraft are of zero interest to me as I want to share aviation with others.
The BD-4 wasn't designed to be an LSA, important for older pilots which make up the majority of people building and flying GA aircraft.
@@TecnamTwin well the lack of 4 place options in the LSA rules makes it a less than useful market for everyone who isn't "older".
@@TecnamTwin the JSX-2 will definitely be cool, though it would be nice if the VNE were increased a bit to go along with the larger engine option.
Viking Honda 130hp or 150hp would be great in this.
There are 180 hp Rotax available. Much better choice.
@@azcoyote007rotax highest HP is 160 and it cost 40,000. viking cost less than 20,000. rotax is not better, just different. all engines have pros ane cons
Well can’t argue the price. Edge is building Rotax to 200 hp. Epex is cool too. But I get your point.
Why oh why wouldn’t you put dual braking on a taildragger. 🙋🏼♂️
Makes it so-much easier to fly! Ground loops don’t happen in a Sonex.
It saves weight and cost too!
It does make it very forgiving and I agree about the weight and cost. I've found that I like my Waiex brakes and I really can't afford the weight to add the additional parts.
I really don't think I like that throttle setup.
"Folks that are in wheel chairs".... WTF?
Landing gear don't look good
? What’s wrong with it?
It is alright it's just looks like bent backwards. I know it's not and it's a very
Good design
It is alright it's just looks like bent backwards. I know it's not and it's a very
Good design
Its not bent. Straight legs, swept aft...