Sonex Aircraft SubSonex

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SubSonex
SubSonexsmoke.jpg
SubSonex JSX-1
General information
Type Homebuilt aircraft
National origin United States
Manufacturer Sonex Aircraft
Designer
John Monnett
StatusIn production (2022)
Number built17 (January 2022)
History
ManufacturedFall 2014-present
Introduction date2015
First flight10 August 2011

The SubSonex is an experimental, single-seat, amateur-built jet aircraft from Sonex Aircraft's "Hornet's Nest" development division.

Contents

Design and development

SubSonex JSX-1 demonstration flight SonexJSX-1.jpg
SubSonex JSX-1 demonstration flight
JSX-1 prototype Sub Sonex JSX-1.jpg
JSX-1 prototype

The JSX-1 is a single place, single engine jet aircraft similar in design to an Onex, with a Waiex style Y tail, fixed main landing gear and a retractable nosewheel. Introduced at AirVenture 2009, it is powered by a Czech-built PBS TJ100 turbojet engine mounted above the aft fuselage, with the exhaust exiting between the Y-tail. It achieved first engine test runs in December 2009. The engine produces 1100 N (240 lb) of thrust. Originally developed with only a central mono pod wheel, tail wheel and small wing tip outriggers, the prototype exhibited directional controllability problems during taxi tests.[ citation needed ] It was flight tested by jet-sailplane performer Bob Carlton in August 2011. [1] [2]

The production model of the SubSonex is the JSX-2. The landing gear was changed to a fully retractable, pneumatically-operated tricycle configuration. [3] [4] [5] [6]

At AirVenture 2013 the company began taking US$10,000 deposits on production kits. The kit's projected price was US$125,000 in 2013 and US$135,000 in 2014. [2] [7]

The first JSX-2 kit was shipped to a customer in February 2015, [8] [9] and completed and flown in October 2015. [10]

Operational history

By January 2022, 17 examples had been registered in the United States with the Federal Aviation Administration. [11] [12]

In August 2024, two JSX-2s were used by the Michigan Air National Guard as "cruise missile threat replication aircraft" and drones during Exercise Northern Strike. The JSX-2s are supplied by KestrelX. [13] [14] [15] [16] [17]

Variants

JSX-1
Prototype version.
SubSonex JSX-2 SubSonex JSX2.jpg
SubSonex JSX-2
SubSonex JSX-2 SubSonex JSX-2.jpg
SubSonex JSX-2
JSX-2
Second version with a BRS parachute, wider fuselage, more streamlined nose, and fully retractable undercarriage. [18] Bob Carlton performed the first test flight with the prototype JSX-2 on 10 July 2014 from Wittman Field. [19] Entered production as an amateur-built kit in the fall of 2014. [20] [21]
JSX-2T
Two-seats in side-by-side configuration version announced in July 2019. It will use the same PBS TJ-100 turbojet engine with the PBS TJ-150 as an option. The design is projected to offer a cruise speed of over 174 kn (322 km/h) and an estimated useful load of 970 lb (440 kg). [22] The aircraft was expected to be first publicly displayed at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh in July 2020, but the event was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [23] [24]
NASC Tracer
Twin-jet unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) model for military and civil applications, designed by Sonex and the Navmar Applied Sciences Corporation (NASC) [25]
NASC Tracer THE-NASC-TRACER.jpg
NASC Tracer

Specifications (JSX-2)

Data from Sonex Aircraft [26] and AINonline [21]

General characteristics

Performance

Avionics

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Related lists

References

  1. ↑ Whitfield, Bethany (August 16, 2011). "SubSonex Jet Completes Maiden Flight". Flying. Archived from the original on August 18, 2011.
  2. 1 2 Tacke, Willi; Marino Boric; et al: World Directory of Light Aviation 2015-16, page 126. Flying Pages Europe SARL, 2015. ISSN   1368-485X
  3. ↑ Grady, Mary (December 30, 2009). "First Flight Expected Soon For Jet-Powered Sonex". AVweb. Archived from the original on August 10, 2022. Retrieved December 31, 2009.
  4. ↑ Grady, Mary (June 7, 2010). "Jet-Powered Glider Completes Test Flights". AVweb. Retrieved June 10, 2010.
  5. ↑ "SubSonex Jet Prototype Ready to Resume Testing" (Press release). Oshkosh, WI: Sonex Aircraft. July 22, 2010. Retrieved June 21, 2012.
  6. ↑ Sonex Aircraft (2014). "SubSonex Update: FAA NKET Checklist Posted, SubSonex Gets New Gear and New Test Flight Video Footage is Available!". campaign-archive.com. Archived from the original on October 2, 2020. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
  7. ↑ Pew, Glenn. "Sonex Accepts Deposits For Personal Jet - AVweb flash Article". Avweb.com. Retrieved July 31, 2013.
  8. ↑ Kauh, Elaine (February 18, 2015). "Sonex Begins Microjet Kit Deliveries". AVweb. Retrieved February 20, 2015.
  9. ↑ "Sonex Aircraft Delivers First Subsonex Kit". Sport Aviation: 14. August 2015.
  10. ↑ Pope, Stephen. "First Customer-Built SubSonex Jet Flies". Flying . Retrieved May 7, 2016.
  11. ↑ Federal Aviation Administration (January 8, 2022). "JSX-2 Make / Model Inquiry Results" . Retrieved January 8, 2022.
  12. ↑ Federal Aviation Administration (January 8, 2022). "Subsonex Make / Model Inquiry Results" . Retrieved January 8, 2022.
  13. ↑ "KestrelX UAV and Cruise Missile Threat Replication Aircraft | SBIR.gov". legacy.www.sbir.gov. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
  14. ↑ Stover, Andrew (August 11, 2024). "U.S. Air Force Uses Contracted JSX-2 SubSonex Microjets to Simulate Cruise Missiles in Exercise Northern Strike 24". The Aviationist. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
  15. ↑ Leone, Dario. "Contracted Subsonex JSX-2 microjets used by USAF to simulate cruise missiles in Exercise Northern Strike 24". The Aviation Geek Club. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
  16. ↑ Trevithick, Joseph (August 14, 2024). "F-16s Team With JSX-2 Microjets To Replicate Complex Cruise Missile And Drone Attacks". The War Zone. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
  17. ↑ Trevithick, Joseph (August 9, 2024). "Tiny Jets Masquerading As Cruise Missiles Featured In Michigan Airpower Exercise". The War Zone. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
  18. ↑ "SubSonex Progress Update: October 7, 2011". Archived from the original on June 21, 2012. Retrieved June 21, 2012.
  19. ↑ Grady, Mary (July 14, 2014). "Sonex Flies Single-Seat Jet". AVweb. Archived from the original on September 10, 2015. Retrieved July 29, 2024.
  20. ↑ Sport Aviation : 14. April 2014.{{cite journal}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  21. 1 2 Thurber, Matt (September 1, 2014). "AirVenture Report: 2014". AINonline. Archived from the original on August 29, 2021. Retrieved September 4, 2014.
  22. ↑ O'Connor, Kate (July 11, 2019). "Sonex To Offer Two-Place Jet Kit". AVweb. Archived from the original on July 12, 2019. Retrieved July 12, 2019.
  23. ↑ Cook, Marc (January 15, 2020). "Two-Seat SubSonex Set to Debut at AirVenture 202". AVweb. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
  24. ↑ Prinsen, Jake. "EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2020 canceled due to coronavirus pandemic". Northwestern Media. Retrieved May 1, 2020.
  25. ↑ Phelps, Mark (April 26, 2022). "SubSonex-Based Unmanned Twin-Jet Revealed As Low-Cost Military UAV". AVweb. Archived from the original on April 27, 2022. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
  26. ↑ "SubSonex Brochure" (PDF). Sonex Aircraft. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 17, 2016. Retrieved July 28, 2016.
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