|
-
POSTING RULES

-
Donate yearly (please).
-
Advertise in here!
-
Today's Posts
|
Insert Pics
|

05-04-2013, 10:40 AM
|
 |
|
|
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: San Luis Obispo, CA
Posts: 159
|
|
Sonex Traitor?
I'm thinking of building a Sonex Onex next instead of an RV-3. The article in Kitplanes didn't help. Am I a Van's traitor? Do I need an intervention?
__________________
Paul
CFI (with a LODA. PM me for transition training)
RV-7- flying since 2009 with a Subie, flying since Aug 2013 with a ECi Titan IO-370
1974 Bonanza V35B because n+1 
2020 VAF dues paid! (recurring monthly payment setup)
|

05-04-2013, 10:54 AM
|
 |
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Southern Michigan
Posts: 1,966
|
|
The Onex is on my next airplane to build list. I want something in addition to the -10 where I can go out in it by myself and bore holes in the sky. This one looks pretty promising to fill that need.
__________________
David C.
Howell, MI
RV-10: #41686 Under Construction
RV-9A: #90949 Under Construction
RV-10: #40637 Completed/Sold 2016
Cozy MKIV:#656 Completed/Sold 2007
"Donor Exempt" but donated through Dec. 2020
|

05-04-2013, 10:56 AM
|
 |
|
|
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Jupiter FL.
Posts: 451
|
|
I'm playing with the idea of this
http://flypanther.net/
__________________
VAF DUES 7/13, 12/13, 03/14
Founder/Director
www.Aircraftwraps.com
Replace paint with performance.
This is my personal account and does not reflect the official communications of Aircraftwraps.com. We have retained a username for such correspondence. I post about formation, eating, aerobatics and pilot stuff  .
|

05-04-2013, 11:27 AM
|
 |
Senior Curmudgeon
|
|
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Dayton Airpark, NV A34
Posts: 15,420
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by 9GT
The Onex is on my next airplane to build list. I want something in addition to the -10 where I can go out in it by myself and bore holes in the sky. This one looks pretty promising to fill that need.
|
I have the same yearnings, but my wife is not too happy about it 
__________________
Mike Starkey
VAF 909
Rv-10, N210LM.
Flying as of 12/4/2010
Phase 1 done, 2/4/2011 
Sold after 240+ wonderful hours of flight.
"Flying the airplane is more important than radioing your plight to a person on the ground incapable of understanding or doing anything about it."
|

05-04-2013, 11:47 AM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Boulder, CO
Posts: 4,435
|
|
As an RV-3B builder who has a friend that built a Sonex Xenos, I'll take a shot at this.
The Onex will have pre-punched homes and a computer-developed design, with parts that cleco together. With the RV-3B, you'll have to locate and drill almost all the holes yourself. Both airplanes have pre-built spars, and the RV-3B can have quick-build wings.
The RV-3has a bubble canopy and the Onex doesn't.
The Xenos upper wing surface definitely ripples during normal 1 g flight. I regard it as both unslightly and unaerodynamic. While I can't say if that carries to the Onex, it's a sign of poor design.
The RV-3B plans are old school prints. It's mostly all there with some looking. The build manual is decent but it's more of a big picture thing than a detail guide. The Xenos plans are considerably more clear and more of a step-by-step thing. My friend took as long to build his Xenos as I'd expect to with the RV-3B (except that I'm very slow so it'll take longer for me). But the ease of building doesn't seem to carry through to a faster building experience. Although the Onex will have fewer parts.
The RV-3B will use two to three times the fuel that the Onex will use. And the Onex can fold its wings while the RV-3B can't.
The Aero-Vee "carb," is a quirky thing, and the fuel tank of the Onex has a filler spout at the base of the canopy. Ugh. My friend is still sorting through the fuel system issues, in the plane's second summer flying. I am not impressed.
There's a substantial price difference between the two planes.
Bottom line - it you enjoy building and can afford it, build the RV-3B. If you don't or want it to be relatively easy, and if the price is a major factor and you don't mind risking the fuel system, get the Onex.
Dave
RV-3B, now on the wings
|

05-04-2013, 12:20 PM
|
 |
|
|
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Defiance, MO
Posts: 1,674
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by David Paule
The Aero-Vee "carb," is a quirky thing, and the fuel tank of the Onex has a filler spout at the base of the canopy. Ugh. My friend is still sorting through the fuel system issues, in the plane's second summer flying. I am not impressed
|
Guy at our airport has same experience with his Onex. He just circles the airport as he keeps working on the fuel system, not wanting to stray to far. He has been doing this every weekend for a year now.
__________________
Philip
RV-6A - 14+ years, 950+ hours
Based at 1H0 (Creve Coeur)
Paid dues yearly since 2007
|

05-04-2013, 12:21 PM
|
 |
|
|
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: 08A
Posts: 9,500
|
|
I'm helping a friend with an Onex right now. Let's just say the Sonex crew is not in the same league as Vans when it comes to working out all the errors before shipping the kits.
__________________
Dan Horton
RV-8 SS
Barrett IO-390
|

05-04-2013, 12:34 PM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: so cal
Posts: 33
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rhino889
|
I agree. This is looking very promising now. I would be more inclined toward an RV3 but LSA is a very real concern in my future.
__________________
Aaron
|

05-04-2013, 12:36 PM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Denver area
Posts: 272
|
|
I like a lot of things about the Onex, and if I put my mind to it I might actually be able to build one, whereas I think an RV-3 would be beyond my ability. When it comes to considering the looks though, the RV wins the beauty contest by a long mile, IMO. I'll never build a Onex because to me, somehow, it just doesn't look right. Shallow I know, but I love the looks of almost all of the RV line.
|

05-04-2013, 12:39 PM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Meridian ID, Aspen CO, Okemos MI
Posts: 2,645
|
|
My second plane will be a kitfox. I think they are perfect for their mission. Reasonably priced and to build. But, I don't care about aerobatics, so each his own.
__________________
rockwoodrv9a
Williamston MI
O-320 D2A
Awaiting DAR Inspection
|
| Thread Tools |
Search this Thread |
|
|
|
| Display Modes |
Linear Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
All times are GMT -6. The time now is 07:53 AM.
|