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Sonex Aircraft, LLC is an American kit aircraft manufacturer located in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, producing kits for four all-metal homebuilt monoplanes. The company was founded in 1998 by John Monnett, who has designed the Monnett Sonerai sport aircraft series, Monnett Monerai sailplane, Monnett Moni motorglider, and Monnett Monex racer. Monnett designs are displayed in the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center of the National Air and Space Museum near Washington D.C.
In June 2018, John Monnett announced his plan to retire and sell the company. In January 2022, Sonex employee and general manager, Mark Schaible, purchased the assets of Sonex Aircraft LLC and Sonex Aerospace LLC, forming them into a new company, Sonex LLC. Schaible will be owner and president of the new company.
Aircraft
In 2013, the FAA National Kit Evaluation Team (NKET) approved fast-build "51% rule" versions of the Sonex, Waiex, and Onex. In December 2019 the John Monnett-designedSonerai
The Sonerai is a small, VW-powered homebuilt aircraft,"The Sonerai I,"
GreatPlai ...
was acquired by Sonex Aircraft.
GreatPlai ...
Engines
Company subsidiary AeroConversions manufactures theAeroConversions AeroVee Engine
The AeroConversions Aerovee Engine is a kit-built engine for homebuilt aircraft based on the Volkswagen air-cooled engine.
Design and development
The AeroVee engine is manufactured and marketed by AeroConversions, a part of Sonex Aircraft
...
, a custom aircraft implementation of the Volkswagen air-cooled engine.
Hornet's Nest
The Hornet's Nest is the research and development arm of Sonex LLC.E-flight
At AirVenture 2007, Sonex Aircraft announced a project to work on innovative technologies in aviation. The E-flight projects includes using an electric motor, ethanol-based fuels, and other power plant alternatives. In December 2010, an all-electric Waiex was test flown from Wittman field inOshkosh, Wisconsin
Oshkosh is a city in Winnebago County, Wisconsin, of which it is the county seat. The city had a population of 66,816 in 2020, making it the ninth-largest city in Wisconsin. It is also adjacent to the Town of Oshkosh.
History
Oshkosh was ...
. The aircraft was flown with a brushless DC electric motor, managed by a newly designed controller. Power is from a collection of 14.5 kW-hour lithium polymer batteries, giving the aircraft an endurance of one hour at low-speed cruise or 15 minutes of aerobatics. This was the beginning of the development of the Sonex Electric Sport Aircraft.
References
External links
* {{Monnett aircraft Aircraft manufacturers of the United States Monnett aircraft Aviation in Wisconsin 1998 establishments in Wisconsin American companies established in 1998 Manufacturing companies established in 1998 Oshkosh, Wisconsin