Sonex Aircraft SubSonex
| SubSonex | |
|---|---|
 | |
| SubSonex | |
| Role | Homebuilt aircraft |
| National origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | Sonex Aircraft |
| Designer | Monett |
| First flight | 10 August 2011 |
| Introduction | 2009 |
| Status | In production |
| Produced | Fall 2014-present |
| Number built | 6 |
| Unit cost | |
The SubSonex is an experimental single place jet from Sonex Aircraft's "Hornet's Nest" development division.
Design and development
The JSX-1 is a single place, single engine, jet aircraft similar in design to an Onex, with a Waiex style Y tail. It was introduced at AirVenture 2009. It is powered by a Czech-built PBS TJ-100 turbojet engine mounted above the aft fuselage, with the exhaust exiting between the Y-tail. The SubSonex 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 developed directional controllability problems during taxi-tests.
The production model of the SubSonex is the JSX-2. The landing gear was changed to a tricycle configuration with a manually retractable nosewheel.[2][3][4] It was flight tested by Jet-sailplane performer Bob Carlton in August 2011.[5]
At AirVenture 2013 the company began taking US$10,000 deposits on production kits. The projected price of the kit was US$125,000 in 2013 and US$135,000 in 2014.[6]
The first JSX-2 kit was shipped to a customer in February 2015[7][8] and was completed and flown in October 2015.[9]
Operational history
By May 2016 six examples had been registered in the United States with the Federal Aviation Administration.[10][11]
Variants
- JSX-1
- Prototype version.
- JSX-2
- Second version with a BRS parachute, wider fuselage, more streamlined nose, and fully retractable undercarriage.[12] Bob Carlton performed the first test flight with the prototype JSX-2 on 10 July 2014 from Wittman Field.[13] Entered production as an amateur-built kit in the fall of 2014.[14][15]
Specifications (JSX-2)
Data from Sonex Aircraft[16] and AINonline[15]
General characteristics
- Crew: 1
- Length: 16 ft 6 in (5.03 m)
- Wingspan: 18 ft (5.5 m)
- Wing area: 60 sq ft (5.6 m2)
- Airfoil: 64-415
- Empty weight: 500 lb (227 kg) average
- Gross weight: 1,000 lb (454 kg) utility configuration
- Fuel capacity: 40 U.S. gallons (150 L; 33 imp gal)
- Powerplant: 1 × PBS TJ-100 turbojet
Performance
- Cruise speed: 209 kn; 386 km/h (240 mph) TAS
- Stall speed: 50 kn; 93 km/h (58 mph) landing configuration
- Never exceed speed: 249 kn; 462 km/h (287 mph)
- G limits: +4.4/-2.2 in utility configuration, +6/-3 in aerobatic configuration
- Rate of climb: 1,600 ft/min (8.1 m/s) initial at sea level
- Fuel consumption: 18 US gallons (68 L) per hour
Avionics
- MGL Avionics Flight II instrument and the MGL V10 Com transceiver
See also
- Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
References
- ↑ Alton K. Marsh (October 2014). "Your Personal Jet". AOPA Pilot: 54.
- ↑ Grady, Mary (30 December 2009). "First Flight Expected Soon For Jet-Powered Sonex". AVweb. Retrieved 31 December 2009.
- ↑ Grady, Mary (7 June 2010). "Jet-Powered Glider Completes Test Flights". AVweb. Retrieved 10 June 2010.
- ↑ "SubSonex Jet Prototype Ready to Resume Testing" (Press release). Oshkosh, WI: Sonex Aircraft. 22 July 2010. Retrieved 21 June 2012.
- ↑ "SubSonex Jet Completes Maiden Flight". Retrieved 5 September 2011.
- ↑ Pew, Glenn. "Sonex Accepts Deposits For Personal Jet - AVweb flash Article". Avweb.com. Retrieved 31 July 2013.
- ↑ Kauh, Elaine (18 February 2015). "Sonex Begins Microjet Kit Deliveries". AVweb. Retrieved 20 February 2015.
- ↑ "Sonex Aircraft Delivers First Subsonex Kit". Sport Aviation: 14. August 2015.
- ↑ Pope, Stephen. "First Customer-Built SubSonex Jet Flies". Flying (magazine). Retrieved 7 May 2016.
- ↑ Federal Aviation Administration (7 May 2016). "JSX-2 Make / Model Inquiry Results". Retrieved 7 May 2016.
- ↑ Federal Aviation Administration (7 May 2016). "Subsonex Make / Model Inquiry Results". Retrieved 7 May 2016.
- ↑ "SubSonex Progress Update: October 7, 2011". Retrieved 21 June 2012.
- ↑ Grady, Mary (14 July 2014). "Sonex Flies Single-Seat Jet". AVweb. Retrieved 16 July 2014.
- ↑ Sport Aviation: 14. April 2014. Missing or empty
|title=(help) - 1 2 Thurber, Matt (1 September 2014). "AirVenture Report: 2014". AINonline. Retrieved 4 September 2014.
- ↑ "SubSonex Brochure" (PDF). Sonex Aircraft. Retrieved 28 July 2016.
External links
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sonex Aircraft SubSonex. |
- Official website
- Web Interview on SubSonex Progress
- The Second Coming of the Microjet, by Paul Bertorelli, AVweb