Sonex announces 2-place SubSonix personal jet

Pilawt said:
A BD-5J for the 21st Century!

o_O
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Heh heh. They've had the single-place JSX-2 in production for about four years, and so it's not vaporware. I'm really curious about the range/endurance with only 50 gallons of fuel.
 
Good to see they are still putting out new models a year after John Monnett retired. I am always concerned when a founder retires or otherwise departs the pattern.
 
A two seat jet for not a whole lot more than a decked out 2 seat RV... Hmm. If the economy stays good, these will sell...
 
kyleb said:
A two seat jet for not a whole lot more than a decked out 2 seat RV... Hmm. If the economy stays good, these will sell...
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It will still be a novelty toy and not nearly as practical as an RV and not really any faster. Just makes a cooler noise!
 
Stan Cooper said:
Fuel capacity is 50 gallons. I wonder how far that'll get you.
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The single seat jet gets 410 max range with 40 gallon capacity. Probably big brother will also be about the same with 10 more gallons, wider cabin, more weight to carry.
 
A 200 mph side-by-side jet? Ugly and slow... no thanks. I guess that's why they're marketing it as a jet trainer.
 
Lowflynjack said:
A 200 mph side-by-side jet? Ugly and slow... no thanks. I guess that's why they're marketing it as a jet trainer.
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I get that it's cool but even the single place cost as much as a Lancair, burns as much or more gas, while going slower and with less range.
 
That engine placement looks ideal for quick swap. If you got the dough for a spare and an A&P that can do it quick, doesn't look like there'd be much downtime. Like that.
 
The Subsonex makes very little sense as anything other than a toy. Then again, how many of our airplanes really make sense?
 
sarangan said:
I couldn't find any data on endurance or range, at sonex website or at the engine manufacturer's site.
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I suspect they want to keep everybody guessing until the big unveiling at AirVenture at the end of the month.
 
Good hundred dollar hamburger aircraft. You’d be the talk of the airport
 
I wish I could travel for work, but that is not allowed. Would have been a lot more enjoyable on the last couple of trips, especially the down-and-back-again in one day trip to Orlando in January.

The vast majority of my flights are personal trips or Angel Flight. Some years more Angel Flight, some years more personal trips.

These subsonex look neat, but wouldn't help me do much of my flying.
 
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I’m personally stoked about this news as it’s now one of my dream birds. Performance should be great with the newly announced TJ150 at 337 pounds of Thrust and still adequate with 258 pounds of Thrust from the TJ100.

It’s looking like the range should be closer to around 300NM with a 30 minute reserve.
 
Andrew Morris said:
I’m personally stoked about this news as it’s now one of my dream birds. Performance should be great with the newly announced TJ150 at 337 pounds of Thrust and still adequate with 258 pounds of Thrust from the TJ100.

It’s looking like the range should be closer to around 300NM with a 30 minute reserve.
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It will have slightly better speed than a two seat RV, twice the fuel burn, less baggage, and substantially worse runway performance. Don't get me wrong. I'd love to have one.

To me, the advantage is the theoretical low maintenance of the turbine. I spend a lot of time changing oil, filters, plugs, and inspecting the engine, exhaust, prop, etc. of my RV-6. I suspect a turbine would cut that tremendously. The real benefit is for the Saturday morning flyer like me, who'd like a kick the tires, light the fires airplane so I got more airtime and less wrench time.
 
Clip4 said:
How will one get a type rating in this aircraft?
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Go to the Sonex factory and ride with one of their check pilots. They have a method to get you a type rating in the single seater, so this one should be easy...
 
kyleb said:
Go to the Sonex factory and ride with one of their check pilots. They have a method to get you a type rating in the single seater, so this one should be easy...
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probably they fly chase on you in a cirrus.... impromptu. "Show me what you got, kid...."
 
kyleb said:
Go to the Sonex factory and ride with one of their check pilots. They have a method to get you a type rating in the single seater, so this one should be easy...
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Type rating in an experimental? I don't think so.

Maybe an LOA, but not a type.
 
kyleb said:
It will have slightly better speed than a two seat RV, twice the fuel burn, less baggage, and substantially worse runway performance. Don't get me wrong. I'd love to have one.

To me, the advantage is the theoretical low maintenance of the turbine. I spend a lot of time changing oil, filters, plugs, and inspecting the engine, exhaust, prop, etc. of my RV-6. I suspect a turbine would cut that tremendously. The real benefit is for the Saturday morning flyer like me, who'd like a kick the tires, light the fires airplane so I got more airtime and less wrench time.
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I think it's only theoretical with this particular engine. I recall a very low stated TBO, and am curious how they hold up in real life.

I love the idea of burning cheap jet-A, but 300nm is a pretty short leash, and as a big and tall person, well, the sonex range all look like child-sized flying canoes to me.

I want an E-AB lear 25 equivalent. :D
 
schmookeeg said:
I think it's only theoretical with this particular engine. I recall a very low stated TBO, and am curious how they hold up in real life.

I love the idea of burning cheap jet-A, but 300nm is a pretty short leash, and as a big and tall person, well, the sonex range all look like child-sized flying canoes to me.

I want an E-AB lear 25 equivalent. :D
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It will be interesting to see the service history of those engines.

I think you'll have to wait a bit longer for the EAB Lear, but the BD-10 design rights are probably available on the cheap. ;-)
 
The extra thrust will be more than made up for with the extra profile drag. So basically you get a 200 kt, VFR, 2 seater, that only goes 300 miles guzzling 20 Gal/hr making cool jet noises. I could get a Raptor for the same price, only it’s 300 kts, IFR, 4 seater, going 3,600 miles, pressurized, BRS, burning 11gal/hr and makes cool Audi noises. ;)
 
If memory serves me - and it frequently fails - the transition training requires you to have a glider rating first, then train in a jet powered glider in order to get the turbine transition necessary for the SubSonex.
 
bflynn said:
If memory serves me - and it frequently fails - the transition training requires you to have a glider rating first, then train in a jet powered glider in order to get the turbine transition necessary for the SubSonex.
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That was for the single seater. With a two seater, I'm sure you just start in the two seater with an IP.
 
Sure, and that alone would be a good reason to build one.
 
Velocity173 said:
The extra thrust will be more than made up for with the extra profile drag. So basically you get a 200 kt, VFR, 2 seater, that only goes 300 miles guzzling 20 Gal/hr making cool jet noises. I could get a Raptor for the same price, only it’s 300 kts, IFR, 4 seater, going 3,600 miles, pressurized, BRS, burning 11gal/hr and makes cool Audi noises. ;)
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Except, for now, the Raptor is vaporware, and is a long way from becoming available.
 
It should be easier to build than an Oregon Spam Can and draw a crowd everywhere you go. I hope it's the Talk of Oshkosh!
 
Velocity173 said:
I could get a Raptor for the same price, only it’s 300 kts, IFR, 4 seater, going 3,600 miles, pressurized, BRS, burning 11gal/hr and makes cool Audi noises. ;)
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Nope - those are not for sale yet - if ever.
 
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