| Sonex Aircraft Onex | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Prototype of Sonex Aircraft Onex | |
| Role | Homebuilt aircraft |
| Manufacturer | Sonex Aircraft |
| Designer | John Monnett |
| First flight | 27 January 2011 |
| Status | In production |
| Number built | 53 incl 2 prototypes as of March 2019 [1] |
| Developed from | Sonex Aircraft Sonex |
The Onex (pronounced "One-X" [2] ) is an American single-seat, low-wing aircraft first flown on 27 January 2011 [3] [4] and currently being produced by Sonex Aircraft as a kit for amateur construction. [5] [6]
The Onex was designed to be economical, have aerobatic capabilities and folding wings, allowing storage in a standard 7 ft (2.1 m) high by 8 ft (2.4 m) wide residential garage. [4] The aircraft has been designed to standard light aircraft FAR-23 static load requirements with the wings supporting more than 10,000 pounds in sandbags during the tests. [7] Intended for the US experimental home-built and light-sport aircraft categories, in 2012 the company estimated the total price to purchase and build the aircraft to be around US$25,299, making it the least expensive of their kits. [8] The FAA's National Kit Evaluation Team has approved construction checklists demonstrating compliance with the homebuilt requirement that the "major portion", or 51% of the aircraft, is completed by the builder, not the manufacturer. This also allows the owner to seek commercial help with construction. [6] [9]
The first prototype was flown with conventional landing gear [3] with the first flight of the tricycle gear version taking place on October 5, 2011. [5] The prototype was equipped with an AeroVee Volkswagen air-cooled engine. [4]
In a February 2, 2011 webinar, Monett discussed many of technical aspects of the Onex, as well as providing a description of the early flight tests. The Onex is constructed from 6061 aluminum and features a single 15-gallon molded plastic fuel tank mounted in the fuselage, situated so the pilot can see the level of the fuel remaining. Monett claims that this type of tank is the safest and placing it in the fuselage, as opposed to in the wing, will reduce the chances of a fire in case of an accident. A further advantage of this configuration is that the fuel system will be gravity-fed and therefore not require a fuel pump, as it would if the tank were in the wings. Monett discussed the aim of simplicity and that a major goal is to reduce the parts count and thereby cost and weight. He also indicated that on the first test flight the aircraft climbed at 1200 ft per minute and was very responsive to the controls. Monett stated also that he had done some cursory testing of the flaps and found the 45° flap position to be very effective. [7]
In a progress update on January 26, 2012, Sonex stated that more than 50 kits had been shipped before the new year, and some were nearing completion. [5]
Data frommanufacturer’s website [5]
General characteristics
Performance
Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
The Onex, Sonex, Waiex and Xenos are a family of lightweight, metal, low-wing, two seat homebuilt aircraft. Kits are produced and marketed by Sonex Aircraft, a small manufacturer based in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. By 2014, 500 customer built aircraft had been completed. The Sonex can also be built from plans.
PZL M26 Iskierka or M26 Airwolf is a Polish trainer and aerobatic aircraft, designed at WSK PZL-Mielec.
The Christen Eagle, which later became the Aviat Eagle in the mid-1990s, is an aerobatic sporting biplane aircraft that has been produced in the United States since the late 1970s.
The Parnall Elf is a British two seat light touring aircraft of the 1920s. Built by George Parnall & Co. the Elf was the last aircraft designed by Harold Bolas before he left the company to go to the United States.
The Xenos is a light, aluminum, low-wing, two seat homebuilt aircraft, that can be registered as a motor glider or a light-sport aircraft (ELSA). Kits are produced and marketed by Sonex Aircraft, a small manufacturer based in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.
The Thatcher CX4 is an American-designed aircraft for amateur construction designed by David Thatcher of Pensacola, Florida and plans are supplied by Thatcher Aircraft, Inc.
The Stits-Besler Executive is a three place homebuilt aircraft designed by Ray Stits, as the Stits SA-4A Executive.
The CubCrafters CC11-160 Carbon Cub SS is an ASTM certified light-sport aircraft based on the Piper J-3 Cub manufactured by Cub Crafters. It is modernized, with light-weight carbon fiber components and a 180 hp (130 kW) engine.
The Sonex Electric Sport Aircraft (ESA) was a two-place aircraft design that was under development by Sonex Aircraft, using the 80 hp (60 kW) Sonex e-Flight electric system for thrust. Sonex designed this aircraft as a part of an attempt to develop alternate fuels, to ensure feasibility of inexpensive sport aviation in the future.
The Belite Superlite, originally the product of Belite Aircraft, is a single-seat, high-wing, single-engine ultralight aircraft developed from the Kitfox Lite aircraft especially for the United States FAR 103 Ultralight Vehicles category.
The Zenair Zodiac CH 640 is a Canadian light aircraft that was designed by Chris Heintz and is produced by Zenair in the form of a kit for amateur construction.
The Stits SA-11A Playmate is a homebuilt aircraft design that features a rapid wing-folding mechanism for trailering or storage.
The Tiger Cub Developments (TCD) Sherwood Ranger is a single engine, tandem two seat biplane microlight designed and built in the United Kingdom in the early 1990s. Kits were originally produced by TCD; later, design rights were acquired by The Light Aircraft Company Ltd (TLAC) who resumed kit production in 2009.
The SubSonex is an experimental, single-seat, amateur-built jet aircraft from Sonex Aircraft's "Hornet's Nest" development division.
The Sport Performance Aviation Panther is a single seat, all-metal, homebuilt aircraft under development by Sport Performance Aviation of Green Cove Springs, Florida. The aircraft is intended to be supplied as plans and as a kit for amateur construction.
The Aircraft Technologies Atlantis is an American aerobatic homebuilt aircraft, built by Aircraft Technologies of Lilburn, Georgia. The aircraft is supplied as a kit or in the form of plans for amateur construction.
The Spacek SD-1 Minisport is a Czech amateur-built aircraft, designed by Igor Špaček and produced by Spacek of Hodonín. The aircraft was also produced for a short time in the United States by SkyCraft Airplanes of Orem, Utah as a light-sport aircraft, but they had gone out of businesses by 2017. The aircraft is supplied in the form of plans, as a kit for amateur construction, or as a ready-to-fly aircraft.
The Stewart S-51D Mustang is an American aerobatic homebuilt aircraft that was designed by Jim Stewart and produced by Stewart 51 of Vero Beach, Florida, introduced in 1994. When it was available the aircraft was supplied as a kit for amateur construction.
The Curtiss-Reid Courier was designed in Canada in 1931 as a specialist, non-passenger carrying, mailplane capable of maintaining services in Canada's hard winters. The 1930s depression led to the end of government subsidised airmail contracts and only one prototype flew. It was lost in 1933 during preparations for a private, long distance flight.
The Yakovlev AIR-11, also known as Yakovlev LT-1, was a 3-seat low-wing touring cabin monoplane designed by A.S. Yakovlev in the USSR, circa 1936.
