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Ready to pull the trigger on a Sonex, unless you talk me out of it.(Newbie Questions)

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MrRoboto

New Member
Joined
Aug 1, 2011
Messages
4
Location
Manitoba
Hi all,
I'm looking to start on a home built pretty soon, and I've almost made a decision, I would just like to see if I've missed anything. First I'll list my situation, goals, and decision criteria.

I started flying with the Canadian cadet program, achieving a private and glider license. I went on to become a glider instructor with that program. I then took a two year aircraft maintenance engineer program, but didn't finish my apprenticeship because I was accepted into the military as a pilot. I'm about half way through my training, and have some time between courses coming up. Whatever I build will be registered in Canada as an amateur-built, so I have no limitations in respect to stall speeds, gross weight, etc. I am 5'6" and 150lbs, a tight cockpit would be alright.

My goal is to start making parts now, and eventually put them together :gig:. I want to build from plans, mostly from sheet aluminum as this is where my experience is and I have the tooling. This will allow me to buy metal as I use up my stock, and easily store parts by avoiding bending anything until it's all ready for bending.

What I want from an airplane is
- Low cost.
- Fun to fly. Light, responsive, capable.
- Powered by an auto conversion, more low cost (Really like the corvair).
- Good plans, good supportive online community
- Cruise above 120mph with an endurance at that speed of at least 3 hours.
- Tail dragger
- Two seats, prefer tandem seating.
- Takeoff/Land in <750'
- Mild aerobatics capable. Really want this, and the capability to do them with a passenger would be nice, but seems to be out of the question.
Would be nice stuff - Float capability, Good Resale.

So looking at all that, I've pretty much settled on the Sonex. The only thing on my list it doesn't do is tandem seating. It even puts me into the aero category at something like 1/3 tank with a light-ish passenger.

Is there anything out there that will give me a useful load of 400lbs in the aerobatics category in an auto conversion and coming anywhere near the Sonex as far as my other wants?

I have a few other questions that I'll list here as well.

- Sonex builders, is the 620lbs empty weight routinely achievable?

Canadian amateur builders,
- What does it take to get an amateur built aircraft certified for aerobatics, I've not yet studied the process.
- Can I fly your Sonex? :roll: Or at least sit in it? I'm about one hour west of Winnipeg Manitoba.


That's all I can think of for now, rest assured I'll come up with more. Thanks for any info/advice you can throw my way.

Rob
 
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