New Pricing Scale Takes Effect on December 15

Like most of the industry, kit manufacturer Sonex has been hit by the ever-increasing costs of parts and materials, and is being forced to pass some of the burden off to customers beginning December 15. Still, Sonex’s prices remain well under par, with many of its complete airframe kits available for under $40,000.

The company detailed the price shifts for Complete Airframe Kits, Quick Build Kits, and AeroVee engine packages. The Onex Complete Airframe Kit increases from $21,675 to $25,450, while the Sonex-B rises from $32,850 to $35,700. The Waiex-B moves to $36,700, and the Xenos-B climbs to $42,500. Being the latest addition to the line-up, the High Wing kit is the lone airframe unaffected, holding at $39,000. The SubSonex Quick Build Kit jumps from $50,000 to $55,000.

Quick Build upgrades follow the same trend. The Onex upgrade increases from $19,800 to $23,200, and the Waiex-B/Sonex-B upgrade rises to $16,000. The Xenos-B upgrade climbs to $25,800, and the High Wing remains unchanged at $16,000. Engine kits are also included in the adjustments. The AeroVee 2.1 jumps from $11,300 to $12,500, and the AeroVee Turbo goes from $15,000 to $17,000.

Even with the adjustments, Sonex continues to uphold its “performance per dollar” argument. Its kit prices uniquely include cowlings and engine mounts rather than letting these components be passed off into separate “finishing kits.” The company also pointed to its Total Cost Worksheet, which accounts for full project expenses beyond the initial kit.

To prove that the new scale doesn’t push it out of the competition, Sonex published the current pricing of similar kit makers. Van’s RV-7 sits at $46,250, the RV-8 at $47,700, and the RV-12 at $51,625. RANS lists the S-7 and S-20 at $39,500 each. Zenith prices range from $30,975 for the CH-701 to $46,780 for the CH-750 SD. Kitfox kits sit between $41,995 and $49,995, depending on the model. These figures exclude engines, avionics, propellers, firewall-forward packages, and the occasional upholstery.

FMI: www.sonexaircraft.com