Photo: Sonex
A pair of new single seat, kit-built airplanes are aimed at DIY pilots looking for a lot of performance for the dollar. Both airplanes are expected to be available for under $30,000 complete with engine, and both expect better than 150 miles per hour using very little fuel.
The Onex from Oshkosh, Wisconsin based Sonex is the latest in a long line of inexpensive kit planes offering relatively high performance. The single seat aluminum airplane is capable of aerobatics and manages a 155 miles per hour cruise speed on just 80 horsepower.
One of the interesting, and attractive design features of the Onex is the foldable wings. In a matter of minutes, the wings can be folded and the sporty airplane can be loaded on a trailer. The ability to keep an airplane in your home garage eliminates parking or hangar costs at the airport, and makes maintenance (or simply long stares of admiration) much easier.
After the first flight a year ago, Sonex recently announced the Federal Aviation Administration has approved the company’s building checklists for the Onex. This gives current and future builders the green light to complete their aircraft in accordance to FAA rules. More than 50 Onex kits have already been shipped to builders.
The second of the new single seaters acquired its smooth composite lines from the hands of a surfboard maker.
Photo: Aerochia
The Aerochia LT-1 is a new single-seat airplane that has been in development for a few years. The carbon-fiber composite fuselage looks like it might be hiding a tiny radial engine, but the LT-1 is in fact powered by a tiny two cylinder, four stroke engine from HKS producing just 60 horsepower. But Aerochia expects to get up to 160 miles per hour out of the engine according to the Experimental Aviation Association.
The LT-1 is designed by a surfboard maker who partnered with multi-time Reno air racing champion Darryl Greenamyer on some of the pilot’s most recent composite airplanes. They expect the 21 foot wingspan airplane to have a maximum weight of less than 800 pounds and burn just three gallons per hour at cruise speed.
The airplane is still in flight testing mode, but the company expects to have the LT-1 at Airventure in Oshkosh, Wisconsin this summer.
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