Sonex aircraft
Moderators: John Dean, Moderator
Sonex aircraft
Sonex aircraft do not appear to be very popular with members, with only a few kits under construction. Although I have never seen one 'in the flesh', does anyone think they know why more aren't being built? John
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Bear in mind that the UK dealer has been through a fairly thorough flight evaluation of his modified machine - which was built speculatively - if the PFA/LAA had not approved the modifications to improve the lngitudinal stability his only option would have been break it up or try and sell it in the States.
So I guess he is trying to recoupe some of that expenditure.
So in theory all you might have to do is repeat everything he had to do.....
So I guess he is trying to recoupe some of that expenditure.
So in theory all you might have to do is repeat everything he had to do.....
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With regard to the popularity of the sonex, we only started taking orders in the last week of November 2007 so in 9 months we have sold 8 kits and 6 AeroVee engines to non Sonex airframe builders. This is a figure we are quite happy with, it is almost 1 kit per month and we have 3 orders pending.
We have also not yet done much in the way of promoting the product which is soon about to change.
The Sonex is also a very mission specific aircraft that is not to everyones taste.
Thanks to the hard work and risk taken by other companies including ourselves there is a good selection of very good aircraft for all to choose from.
We feel and I am sure our customers do also feel the Sonex offers excellent value for money, we dont think there is anything available in the UK that offers the kit quality, de-rigability, and outright performance of a Sonex. The price of a AeroVee Sonex is just £22,706 Vat and shipping and will cruise at around 120mph, the Jab 3300 Sonex ix £27,500 incl Vat and shipping and will cruise at around 150mph, both can also carry 2 adults and full fuel and still be legal. The Sonex has been designed and stressed for aerobatics which will hopefully be granted in the UK soon too.
As any business we need to make a profit or there will be no one at all to sell anything.
It also costs a lot of money to gain approval, exhibit at shows for everyone to come and see all that is on offer, advertise, general business expenses, this all needs to be paid for by the product.
Sonex themselves openly amit that they advertise the product at the lowest possible cost to get airborne.
In the UK kit price is a whole lot more than you get in a basic kit including some tools.
I wonder how much my car would cost direct from factory.
We have also not yet done much in the way of promoting the product which is soon about to change.
The Sonex is also a very mission specific aircraft that is not to everyones taste.
Thanks to the hard work and risk taken by other companies including ourselves there is a good selection of very good aircraft for all to choose from.
We feel and I am sure our customers do also feel the Sonex offers excellent value for money, we dont think there is anything available in the UK that offers the kit quality, de-rigability, and outright performance of a Sonex. The price of a AeroVee Sonex is just £22,706 Vat and shipping and will cruise at around 120mph, the Jab 3300 Sonex ix £27,500 incl Vat and shipping and will cruise at around 150mph, both can also carry 2 adults and full fuel and still be legal. The Sonex has been designed and stressed for aerobatics which will hopefully be granted in the UK soon too.
As any business we need to make a profit or there will be no one at all to sell anything.
It also costs a lot of money to gain approval, exhibit at shows for everyone to come and see all that is on offer, advertise, general business expenses, this all needs to be paid for by the product.
Sonex themselves openly amit that they advertise the product at the lowest possible cost to get airborne.
In the UK kit price is a whole lot more than you get in a basic kit including some tools.
I wonder how much my car would cost direct from factory.
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Hi MDF1, I see from your price comparason you state the price of a Sonex in the USA is £11400, so that makes the exchange rate something like $2.25/£1.00 no account for VAT, Shipping, all the All the extra things that the UK kit has?.
Last week I just ordered another Sonex Kit and got well under $2.00/£1.00.
Apples for Apples ?.
Last week I just ordered another Sonex Kit and got well under $2.00/£1.00.
Apples for Apples ?.
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See gasax's post above. As I recall from correspondence on the old BB, the Sonex factory was not at all interested -- to say the least: I think a certain hostility was involved! -- in making the modifications that the PFA said would be needed to gain approval. Vans clearly have a different approach.Makes you wonder how Vans Aircraft managed to sell over 400 kits into the UK without an agent or anyone in the UK making a Profit.
033719
At the end of the day it's up to the buyer to decide if he feels Mike offers value for money at his current prices and it's upto Mike to change his prices as he see's fit to attract sales.
As it stands I know a number of people who are voting with their feet...
Personally I'll wait until the RV-12 is cleared in the UK and take comfort from the fact that I'll have not been penalized for living in the UK.
(will refrain from responding to personal abuse so please do not post any more, it only weakens your limited argument)
As it stands I know a number of people who are voting with their feet...
Personally I'll wait until the RV-12 is cleared in the UK and take comfort from the fact that I'll have not been penalized for living in the UK.
(will refrain from responding to personal abuse so please do not post any more, it only weakens your limited argument)
Monnett Aircraft
I realise some peole might be upset, but the trouble Mike went through trying to get the Sonnex through the PFA engineering was a tedious exercise, There seems a dislike by someone in the PFA/LAA towards Monnett and it is certainly reflected from Monnett. I still have my moni and it is a sad little aeroplane/ 5000 pound pile of alloy scrap ,as the same persons have the same attitude to it. I saw the article in the LAA magazine about the electric Moni and thought there would be a fat chance of that happening here, with the attitudes that are forthcoming from Engineering. Mike was quite supportive of my Moni when he was at the Rally when I took it there. I hope that I would be to him.
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