Tail Kit Production Starting

Sonex is pleased to report that a successful static load test of the Sonex Highwing horizontal tail section was conducted last week. With the completion of this milestone and positive results from our flight testing with full-span wing tips, production of Tail Kit parts is ready to commence. If you don’t already have your Sonex Highwing Tail Kit order in-place, you can order today. Tail Kit shipping sequence will be in-accordance with already established Sonex Highwing Kit Reservation Deposit position numbers and estimated ship dates will be given to customers by mid-November.

Highwing Tail Load Testing

The Sonex Highwing horizontal tail static load test was conducted in-accordance with established FAA and ASTM standards on October 23rd. Weights were applied to the tail simulating spanwise lift distrubtion across the surfaces in progressively increasing load cases including limit loads (+6G for aerobatic gross weight, +4.4G for max gross weight), structural ultimate loads (limit loads multiplied by a standard safety factor), and beyond. Specific to ASTM testing standards, an asymmetric load was also applied at ultimate with 100% of the load on the right-hand sabilizer and 65% of the load on the left-hand stabilizer to test tail’s attachment to the sample fuselage fuselage section built for this test. We also tested the elevator at ultimate load to validate aerobatic “check maneuver” loads.

Consistent with all Sonex aircraft tail structures, the Highwing tail performed well in-excess of the required loading and was tested to 150% of ultimate load (225% of design limit load) with no failure (breakage) or yielding (permanent deformation) of the structure or sample fuselage section. This feature of Sonex designs not only ensure structural capability of the tail in all flight regimes, but also eliminates concerns with moving the aircraft around by the tail in your hangar.

Full Span Wing Tips

Following our October 8th Webinar Update, the temporary metal set of full span wing tips for the Sonex Highwing have been completed and test flown as molds for the composite wing tips are being made. Flights with the full span tips have completed our validation of rudder handling and authority demonstrating good directional stability and rudder authority allowing a crosswind component of 18 knots during one recent landing. There will be more full span tests to follow including Vx and Vy testing, more stall testing, and more cruise configuration testing, but all preliminary results have been very positive.

Our First Outside Review of the Sonex Highwing

We were very fortunate to have Sonex builder and owner of Cooper Aircraft Corporation, Casey Cooper visit us for two days last week. Casey witnessed our tail load test on Thursday and helped with some of the video documentation for the test, and worked with our team on preliminary planning for the installation of the Rotax 915iS in the Tricycle Gear Highwing prototype.

On Friday, we also invited Casey to fly the Highwing with Sonex test pilot Joe Norris to give us his feedback. Casey’s feedback was quite positive and informative as an outside source with extensive experience regularly flying his Sonex along with a multitude of other homebuilt and Light Sport aircraft for his family’s maintenance and training operation. See his thoughts on the Highwing in his Instagram post on this page.

Sonex Highwing Kit Pricing:

While total kit price has not changed, we have redistributed some of the Sub-Kit items to better match the arrangement of our existing Sub-Kits, including separate sale of the engine mount and cowling. See our updated kit prices below and on the Sonex Web Store.

Complete Kits:

- Complete Airframe Kit: $39,000

- Quick Build Kit: $55,000

- Tri-Gear Option for Complete Airframe Kit or Quick Build Kit: $1,250

Sub-Kit Pricing:

- Tail Kit: $2,250

- Fuselage Kit: $14,450

- Fuselage Quick Build Upgrade: $10,000

- Wing Kit: $12,950

- Wing Quick Build option not available separate from fuselage purchase

- Gear & Controls Kit: $5,600

- Tri-Gear Option for Gear & Controls Kit: $1,250

- Engine Mount & Cowling (Std Gear): $3,750

- Engine Mount & Cowling (Tri-Gear): $3,350

- Kit Minus Tail Package: $36,750