SubSonex Airframe to Enter 'Design Review'

An incident during the testing of John Monnett's enticing single-engine sport jet program has caused him to go back to the drawing board... While the company is saying little about what occurred, an initial NTSB accident summary indicates that the prototype "Landed In The Grass Short Of The Runway, Oshkosh, WI." No injuries were noted, and the damage was reported as 'minor.'

A statement on the Sonex Aircraft website admits that the airplane is heading back for a design review while offering few details on the problems that took place during flight test operations. The Sonex site notes that, "The SubSonex personal jet program faces setbacks, despite huge successes with engine systems integration and testing. Through the course of a series of high-speed taxi tests in recent months, the design team has identified some issues with controllability of the aircraft in the transition phase approaching takeoff speeds, and has decided to enter a thorough design review process aimed at making the aircraft easier to handle for the average recreational pilot."

Sonex also states that this may represent a significant delay in progress for the SubSonex as higher Hornets’ Nest Research and Development priorities take precedence. Both the E-Flight Electric Aircraft and Onex Single-Place Aircraft projects approach critical stages that demand the design team’s full attention over the coming months. Progress updates on both projects will be posted soon.

“The challenges we face with the SubSonex perfectly illustrate our reasoning for unveiling this project under the banner of the Hornets’ Nest Research and Development program,” states Sonex Aircraft Founder and President John Monnett.

Sonex Aircraft Founder and
President John Monnett

“We have been very deliberate in not publishing timetables for development of the aircraft or guarantees of kit availability because there are no guarantees in R&D, despite our best efforts. The Sonex, Waiex and Xenos airframes, along with the current line of AeroConversions products offer impeccable performance, and no product will emerge from the Hornets’ Nest to become available for consumers without meeting the same stringent criteria. I am committed to seeing the SubSonex through, and am confident that we can be successful, however, it must take a back seat to other company priorities for now,” Monnett continues.

“The E-Flight Electric Aircraft and Onex Single-Place Aircraft programs are gaining a huge amount of momentum, and represent the largest potential for successful new Sonex and AeroConversions products in the near-term. These projects require our full attention and resources as we move forward with R&D.”

** Report created 6/7/2010 Record 4 **
IDENTIFICATION
 Regis#: 141SX Make/Model: EXP Description: EXP-
 Date: 06/03/2010 Time: 1546
 Event Type: Incident Highest Injury: None Mid Air: N Missing: N
 Damage: Minor
LOCATION
 City: OSHKOSH State: WI Country: US

DESCRIPTION
AIRCRAFT LANDED IN THE GRASS SHORT OF THE RUNWAY, OSHKOSH, WI

INJURY DATA Total Fatal: 0
 # Crew: 1 Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
 # Pass: 0 Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
 # Grnd: Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
WEATHER: SPECI 1545Z 34004KT 10SM CLR 19/07 A2985
OTHER DATA
 Activity: Unknown Phase: Landing Operation: OTHER
 FAA FSDO: MILWAUKEE, WI (GL13) Entry date: 06/04/2010

FMI: www.sonexaircraft.com