Monnett Sonerai

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Sonerai
Monnett-Sonerai-g-rily.jpg
Sonerai II
Role Homebuilt aircraft
Manufacturer Monett Aircraft
Designer John Monnett
First flight 20 July 1971
Introduction 1971

The Sonerai is a small, VW-powered homebuilt aircraft,[1] designed by John Monnett.[2] The Sonerai began to compete as a single-seat, mid-wing, tailwheel[3] Formula-V racer class formed in 1972. The Sonerai soon evolved into a two-seat model called the Sonerai II.[3]

Later versions included a low-wing Sonerai IIL,[3] a tricycle-gear Sonerai IILT[3] and finally the stretched Sonerai IILS and IILTS.[3][4]

John Monnett came up with the name Sonerai from a combination of the words Sonic and Cosmic-Ray [5] Many Sonerais have been built and it remains a very popular design for people seeking a low-cost experimental aircraft with good speed and maneuverability. The airframe cost to build in 1974 was estimated at $2,500. The 2010 airframe cost is approximately $6,000 (US) and the total cost is approximately $15,000 (US) with the addition of hardware, instrumentation, engine and other required items. The time to build is between 800 and 1000 hours.[6]

Design and development[]

The Sonerai I design and construction started in 1970 with the goal of a flying aircraft to be demonstrated at the 1971 EAA airshow. The aircraft was to meet the new Formula V rules and those of the (PRPA) for aircraft powered by 1600cc Volkswagen engines (it will accept VW engines from 1600 to 2800cc displacement).[1]

Inspired by the Spitfire, an elliptical tail profile was incorporated. Elliptical wingtips and a low-wing configuration were dropped, but a low-wing Sonerai II variant was released later.[7] The Sonerai I was designed to use a direct drive 1,600cc VW engine[1] and the Sonerai II was designed to use the 1700cc VW engine.

The wings were designed to fold alongside the fuselage for towing without a trailer and compact storage.[1] The Sonerai II was designed to be soloed from the rear seat. The aircraft is built around a fabric-covered steel-tube fuselage and tail,[1] with all-aluminum wings[1] and a fiberglass cowl. The plans cost $50 and $57 in 1974.[8]

Great Plains Aircraft Supply Company held the rights to the Sonerai series of aircraft until 2015. , of Franksville, Wisconsin, purchased the rights to Sonerai plans and parts from Great Plains in 2015. Sonerai Works LLC was formed by Fred Keip. a Sonerai IIL builder, owner, and pilot, who was Sonerai Newsletter editor and publisher 1996 –2010, and had been a technical support provider for Sonerai builders over 28 years (an EAA Technical Counselor since 1987).[3][9]

In December 2019 the design was acquired by Sonex Aircraft.[10]

The aircraft is not available as a kit, and is built using plans, although some parts are available.[11]

Operational history[]

The prototype Sonerai 1 was displayed at the Experimental Aircraft Association Airshow in Oshkosh, Wisconsin where Monnett eventually relocated. The aircraft was painted a bright green that became the color of all the future prototypes and company marketing. The shade was from a 1971 Dodge Charger John Monnett saw painted Sassy Grass Green.[12]

World records[]

Dempsey Sonerai I

Brian Dempsey built a Sonerai I that set a world record. The C-1a/0 (Landplanes: takeoff weight less than 300 kg) Speed over a straight 15/25 km course of 292.15 km/h (181.53 mph / 157.74 kts) on February 19, 1989.[13] Dempsey's record stood for 20 years.

Robin Austin of Australia built a Sonerai IIL with a 100 hp Rotax engine. The aircraft has set the following FAI records for C-1a/0 (Landplanes: takeoff weight less than 300 kg).[14]

  • Aeroplane Efficiency : 29.79 km/kg 05/06/2008 Jacobs Well, QLD (Australia)[15]
  • Speed over a recognized course 404.3 km/h (251.2 mph / 218.3 kts) 17 May 2008 St. George, QLD (Australia) - Brisbane, QLD (Australia)[16]
  • Speed over a recognized course 440.0 km/h (273.4 mph / 237.6 kts) 28 Jul 2008 Blackall, QLD (Australia) - Rockhampton, QLD (Australia)[17]
  • Aeroplane Efficiency 37.22 km/kg 08 Jun 2008 C1-b Class[18]

Variants[]

Sonerai I single seat racer
Sonerai II Fuselage
Sonerai II with a Subaru engine
Sonerai I
Single-seat Formula V Racer[1][19]
Sonerai II
Two-seat, mid-wing, conventional gear[19][3]
Sonerai II-L
Two-seat, low-wing, conventional gear[19][3]
Sonerai II-LT
Two-seat, low-wing,[19] conventional gear,[19][3] tricycle gear developed in 1983.[20]
Sonerai II-LS
Two-seat, low-wing, stretched fuselage, conventional gear[19][3][4]
Sonerai II-LTS
Two-seat, low-wing, stretched, tricycle gear[19][3][4]

Specifications (Sonerai II)[]

Sonerai II-L

Data from Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1982–83[21]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1
  • Length: 18 ft 10 in (5.74 m)
  • Wingspan: 18 ft 8 in (5.69 m)
  • Height: 5 ft 0 in (1.52 m)
  • Wing area: 84.0 sq ft (7.80 m2)
  • Airfoil: NACA 64212
  • Empty weight: 500 lb (227 kg)
  • Max takeoff weight: 950 lb (431 kg)
  • Fuel capacity: 10 US gal (8.3 imp gal; 38 L)
  • Powerplant: 1 × 1700cc modified Volkswagen air-cooled engine air-cooled flat-four, 65–70 hp (48–52 kW)
  • Propellers: 2-bladed

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 140 kn (160 mph, 260 km/h)
  • Cruise speed: 120 kn (140 mph, 230 km/h)
  • Stall speed: 38 kn (44 mph, 71 km/h)
  • Range: 300 nmi (350 mi, 560 km) at 75% power (with reserves)
  • Rate of climb: 500 ft/min (2.5 m/s)

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g "The Sonerai I," GreatPlainsAS.com / Sonerai Works, retrieved November 11, 2020
  2. ^ Plane and Pilot's Homebuilt Aircraft Annual. Winter 1975. {{cite journal}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "SoneraiWorks LLC is Now the Supplier of Plans and Model-Specific Parts for the Sonerai Series of Sport Aircraft," press release, as reprinted December 10, 2014, , retrieved November 11, 2020
  4. ^ a b c "The Sonerai II Stretch," GreatPlainsAS.com / Sonerai Works, retrieved November 11, 2020
  5. ^ Bob Barton (May 1991). "Bob Barton's Sonerai IIL". Sport Aviation.
  6. ^ "Sport Aircraft History". Great Plains Aircraft. Retrieved 2008-10-08.
  7. ^ "Race to Oshkosh". Sport Aviation: 6. March 1972.
  8. ^ "Flying Twins your choice of one or two". Popular Mechanics: 108. Aug 1974.
  9. ^ Sport Aviation: 15. February 2015. {{cite journal}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  10. ^ Cook, Marc (30 December 2019). "Sonerai Kit Aircraft Comes Home". AVweb. Archived from the original on 2 January 2020. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
  11. ^ Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12, page 104. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X
  12. ^ Jim Cunningham. John Monnett from Sonerai to Sonex.
  13. ^ "FAI world Records". Retrieved 18 Jan 2015.
  14. ^ Robin Austin (October 2010). "Four World Records". Sport Aviation.
  15. ^ "FAI Record ID #15065 - Aeroplane Efficiency, C-1a (Landplanes: take off weight 300 to 500 kg) " Fédération Aéronautique Internationale Record date 5 June 2008. Accessed: 4 October 2015.
  16. ^ "FAI Record ID #15060 - Speed over a recognized course, C-1a (Landplanes: take off weight 300 to 500 kg)" Fédération Aéronautique Internationale Record date 17 May 2008. Accessed: 4 October 2015.
  17. ^ "FAI Record ID #15100 - Speed over a recognized course, C-1a (Landplanes: take off weight 300 to 500 kg)" Fédération Aéronautique Internationale Record date 28 July 2008. Accessed: 4 October 2015.
  18. ^ "FAI Record ID #15066 - Aeroplane Efficiency, C-1b (Landplanes: take off weight 500 to 1000 kg) " Fédération Aéronautique Internationale Record date 8 June 2008. Accessed: 4 October 2015.
  19. ^ a b c d e f g Purdy, Don: AeroCrafter - Homebuilt Aircraft Sourcebook, Fifth Edition, page 171. BAI Communications, 15 July 1998. ISBN 0-9636409-4-1
  20. ^ Moll, Nigel; Comstock, Bryan (May 1983). "Reporting Points:...And Tricycle Sonerai". Flying. Vol. 110, no. 5. p. 12.
  21. ^ Taylor 1982, pp. 554–555
  • Taylor, John W. R., ed. (1982). Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1982–83. London: Jane's Yearbooks. ISBN 0-7106-0748-2.

External links[]

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