jssaylor2007
Active Member
I wonder how long their ads will continue to be printed in Kitplanes and Sport Aviation.
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Sonex Closing Down
- Thread starter Snowflake
- Start date
@Low Tailwheel rider - If you have the complete B-model kit, you should finish it!Got it...thanks for the reply. As it stands now, I am in the "lost the mothership" scenario with a 2022 Sonex B model kit.
Speaking as an experienced Sonex builder, the airframe is solid. I built the "Legacy" model, and I'm envious of the extra room, better canopy frame, bigger panel, and extra fuel that you'll have with the B-model. The Sonex is a "step down" in size and overall capability from an RV-7 or RV-14; but if you just want to do VFR flying and are OK with 1.5 to 2.5 hour legs, it is a phenomenal bargain compared to the cost of an RV.
For comparison, my Sonex build - including an engine failure and complete rebuild - was about $50k. I'm now building an RV-9 and $50k doesn't even cover the cost of the airframe kits! The quality & completeness of RV kits is phenomenal, but its literally 2x to 3x the price.
Used Rotax 912 engines are now in the $10k - $15k range, so you can get a 100hp Rotax for less than the cost of a new VW conversion engine/kit (or a "good" model of Jabiru 3300). The guys at Cooper Aircraft specialize in mounting a Rotax to the Sonex airframe, and its a winning combination! I only wish the factory had supported it as an option back when the B-models debuted - I think it would've really helped the popularity of the airframe.
If you pursue the build, the forums over at sonexpilots.org is an active and supportive environment; you'll be sure to get plenty of help completing your build there. The Sonex was designed to use as much commodity hardware & raw aluminum stock as possible, so it should be very straightforward to bring it to flying status despite the bankruptcy.
--Noel
Sonex #1339
RV-9 #91350 [build in progress]
Hey Noel,
Welcome to VAF!
New Owner Restarts Sonex - AvBrief.com
All current orders will be filled, full production to resume this month.
avbrief.com
Really happy for all people involved, employees and customers alike. I think some of their designs being good alternative for the not so fortunate people compared to the much more expensive RV we have. Good performance on engines costing 1/2 or less, enough to make loads of pilots happy
Before they went out of business, I was interested (as a possible future project) in the high wing. Love the Vans kits, but they are so expensive and locked into Lycoming...it would be a breath of fresh air to have another alternative and to be able to build for the joy of it. I wish them much luck!
simpsontl48
Active Member
Considering the tail end costs of building, i.e. engine/prop/avionics, it will be a wonder if any kit companies will be around in the next 5-10 years...that includes Vans Aircraft. Buyer beware.
N10KE
Well Known Member
I’m a pessimist by nature, but I disagree. I do believe Van’s will be under different management and/or ownership, but with 11,000+ flying airplanes - someone will buy the company.
As to the others - who knows. Certified aircraft costs have gone out of sight too but that doesn’t seem to be adversely affecting aviation college and flight school enrollment. The ROI for an aviation degree for someone headed to the airlines is pretty appealing right now.
That might be true but the airline path is a long game. You do not get out of a degree program and walk into an airline job. It often takes years to even get in the door of a regional.
Unfortunately, we are in a society that wants instant gratification; if that is the goal then an airline path is probably the wrong path…
The college programs offer a path directly to right seat in a Regional Jet.
Might want to do some research.
When you come out of almost all accredited programs, you have a commercial and instrument and maybe a CFIA. You also have minimum time, likely around 350-400 hours. Yes, you are eligible for an R-ATP but that is at 1000 hours. So, you aren't even employable at a regional until you build around 600 more hours. Those 600 hours don't come over night and NO regional can employ you without the 1000 hours.
The path you may speak of may be that you instruct for the school after you graduate, until you get the required time. That is also a double edge sword as some of the schools will give you a couple of students for a couple days a week. That doesn't build time very quickly. Part 61 allows more flexibility and potentially more students but then the quality of instruction decreases. Unfortunately, that dead zone between having your commercial and meeting the minimum time requirements adds time to the path...and it is a competitive path to be sure. With Spirit folding up, it just got even more competitive for the guy trying to get to the airlines...minimum time isn't going to cut it.
Yes, but the path doesn't guarantee any timing. Lot's of things have to happen.
My Grandson just went from first hour to right seat with Onvoy in 2 years, 9 months. The 2 things he has in his favor are things opening up at just the right time and being ready when they do!
He is NOT a "face in the crowd". He's the guy in front of the crowd asking, What's next?
briand
Well Known Member
Hard to say for sure but boomers have a lot of money and when millennials start getting it they will be looking for new hobbies to spend it on.
Yeah we boomers are just rollin' in the dough
You mean boomers earned a lot of money?
…and millennials are waiting to get it?
Maybe the boomers ought to just spend all that money and then the millennials will have to work for it…like the boomers did.
briand
Well Known Member
Us gen xer’s parents don’t have any money.Don’t forget Gen X in the middle. I have one hobby that takes all my money!
Jerry Fischer
Well Known Member
There is going to be an immediate glut of pilots with Spirit going bust this weekend. IMHO
I have a feeling, the way the oil price is going, there’s going to be a few more joining them.
It’s going to reveal who's wearing underwear shall we say!
N10KE
Well Known Member
Temporarily, maybe. Spirit had maybe 2500 active pilots. United is going to hire 2500 pilots this year, Delta somewhere between 1500 and 2500, American 1500-2000. So even if every Spirit pilot tried for another 121 airline (unlikely that all would be “hireable” ) - that’s really not much of a long term glut.
Airline flying is not career, it's a lottery. Lot of good sticks never get the nod, have their careers ended early by mergers, medical, etc. "Career expectations" is like planning your retirement on winning the lottery.
Glad Sonex is back. Maybe they'll have a demo at Osh?
Glad Sonex is back. Maybe they'll have a demo at Osh?
